Sussex Weft – a collection in the making
A new collection of pieces has been developed inspired by natural textiles
Elaine Bolt
Subtle Changes
My firings use a gas kiln, in reduction, and such firings can always be a little unpredictable. I’ve become used to the subtle changes that occur from firing to firing and from shelf to shelf depending on the glaze mix, the temperature differences, the amount of reduction, the weather and even the whims of the kiln …
Space and Place
New landscapes I’m currently working towards two spring shows that will focus on place and the local landscape. Some of my work draws heavily on the Sussex countryside and the coastline for reference. For a couple of years I’ve been making some pieces that have elements influenced by buoys or ship’s floats that I often find on the beach at Newhaven and …
Making Ground
Making Ground is an adventurous collaboration between craftspeople and the land led by basket maker Annemarie O’Sullivan with ceramic artist Elaine Bolt.
On the move
These last couple of months have been hectic to say the least. I can’t quite believe how busy its been. So here’s a bit of an update – A lightning speed run around what I’ve been making, seeing, winning, writing… plus a picture of a strange creature from York. I made a lot of new …
Objects Can Tell Stories
Objects, stories and lost spoons ‘Objects can tell stories’ is a tag line that I use for my work and its an idea I find I keep coming back to. Objects both found and made can speak to us in so many ways, evoking a real memory or suggesting something completely imaginary. It’s a thread running through my work, …
Every One is Different
Warm Chocolate I’ve been working on some new clay and glaze combinations lately, inspired by woodland walks (my previous post has more on this). My latest firing included pieces using these tones, one of which is a rather chocolatey colour clay combined with a milky speckled glaze. This combination seems to work particularly well. I took …
Woodland Colours
The muted colours of Sussex in Winter and Spring must have been seeping into my thoughts and into my work over the past few months. Some new ideas and pieces have been emerging as a result. Colour palette I’ve spent some time looking at the colour palette I use and working on a range of colours, textures …
Pursuit of Intrigue
‘Pursuit of Intrigue’ is the title of a new short film made about my work. The film offers a sensitive portrait of my current work; focusing in on my ceramic and mixed media objects; dipping into my thought processes, taking a peek at how I work with clay and incorporate found materials. The film can be viewed online …
Fence posts and bottle tops
I’m endlessly inspired by the sea and my visits to the beach, even if I don’t actually fancy a swim right now! But recently I’ve been enjoying the local hills and woods, whilst the trees are damp and the skies are gloomy. On some walks through the Sussex downs I’ve been finding a lot of joy …
Round Robin
I was a tad busy this Autumn/Winter. If I try to put it all down I realise it looks a bit like a Christmas round robin letter – a lengthy listing of what I’ve been up to, regardless of the audience! So, no obligation – feel free to enjoy only the pictures and skip the rest! I …
Buoys and Vessels
I’ve been developing an idea based on buoys (the kind that are often used by boats, or on fishing nets) and particularly the broken and tangled versions I sometimes found washed up on the beach. I wanted to make something that took elements of the buoy and the open shape of a vessel. I also wanted to …
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