Ceramics and Pottery Arts and Resources

 

 

Two female American clayart creatives in the English countryside

 

A perfect antiidote for grey overcast skies is colouful, uplifting, dercorative objects and both of the female ceramicists below employ a natural illustrative freedom and flair that elevates the spirit. Sharon Laslett’s flowing brushstrokes flow like a capricious breeze to emulate her Californian free spirit, which she has transplanted to Essex. Likewise, Stacey Manser Knight expresess a delightful innocence and idiosynchratic whimsy from her studio in Brighton, channeling the seaside and her chidhood memories of visits to the woods and all the flora and fauna she discovered.

 

Sharon Laslett

 

Sharon Laslett – Orange Jug

 

The process of throwing, turning and decorating always feels fresh and new to me, each piece taking on a life of its own. My inspiration for ceramic decoration comes from a combination of shapes found in nature, memories of light and colour found in California, where I lived for many years, and artists such as Matisse and Kandinsky along with the lavishly decorated Iznik pottery of Turkey. My clay of choice is Valentine’s KGM Body, which I love for its smoothness and creamy colour, and the fact that it can also be fired to stoneware temperature. In addition, I use a standard terracotta for those earthy days! The longer I work with clay the more I want to explore its malleable qualities. I love to poke and prod, sometimes until I ruin a piece, just to see exactly how far I can push those plastic boundaries. Sharon is based in her small back garden studio on the Hertfordshire and Essex border in Bishop’s Stortford.

 

 

Sharon Laslett folded vase  —  ‘Imperfection feeds the Soul’

 

 

Sharon Laslett — Pink Rim Shallow Dish

The Tudor House Gallery

 

 

Sharon Laslett  —  ‘A Sculpture-–-Landscape of my Mind’

 

 

Set of Sundae Dishes–Sharon Laslett

 

 

Blue cobalt jug series – Sharon Laslett

 

 

‘Simply Bisque’ – Sharon Laslett

 

 

Sharon Laslett stoneware fish serving plate

 

 

Sharon Laslett spring series dipping bowls

 

 

Sharon Laslett

 

 

Spring salad bowl – Sharon Laslett

White earthenware hand-painted with underglaze and sealed with clear glaze.

 

 

Sharon Laslett ceramic bottle vessels

 

 

Shallow dish with walking figure – Sharon Laslett

 

 

‘Giving Bowl’  – Sharon Laslett

 

 

Stoneware Sake set decorated by hand with cobalt oxide – Sharon Laslett

 

 

Orange highlight terracotta Baking Dish

Inspired by a Buddhist mandala, this sgraffito baking dish is both practical and colourful.

 

 

Three Posy Pots – Sharon Laslett

 

 

Iznik inspired pedestal Bowl Medium – Sharon Laslett

 

 

‘Stay sane make art’ plate — Sharon Laslett

 

 

Sharon Laslett pottery vessels

 

 

Sharon Laslet – Avocado and treal ceramic cups

 

 

Large Scallop dish – Sharon Laslett

 

 

Large Scallop dish – Sharon Laslett

 Relief dish with the words, “See the daisies under your feet and the stars above you”

 

 

‘Funky Jug’ — Sharon Laslett

 

 

Inside Funky jug — Sharon Laslett

 

 

Sharon Laslett jug

 

 

Sharon Laslett —  functional pottery wares

 

 

Cobalt blue on white bird plate -Sharon Laslett

 

 

 

Sharon Lazlett

 

 

 

Stacey Manser-Knight

 

“I am largely self-taught. Over many years I have worked to develop my skills and style, and make highly decorative but functional pieces. I work in red earthenware clay which is coated with a white clay slip layer. This gives me a surface to draw through. Once the piece has reached a near dry state, I illustrate it and pipe on a thick clay preparation, to achieve the raised surfaces. This is then fired, coloured and then a clear over glaze applied. Fired once more, it is now ready for the gold lustre rim highlights and, on-glaze details, such as the stripes on bees. For inspiration I use happy memories. I have no set designs so all pieces are individual.”

I was born in the U.S.A & grew up in New York and Oxford in England where I studied art at Oxford’s Banbury Art School and at Brighton University.

 

 

Stacey Manser-Knight-jug with field flowers and stream

 

 

‘In the woods’ ceramic clock —- Stacey Nanser-Knight

Remembering all those childhood walks in Bagley woods, with a few ‘Ceps’ thrown in from the Brittany woods walks. All the things you’d find in the woodland, in various seasons- thrown together with a spoon of artistic license. That’s the best part of making it up!

 

 

‘In the woods’ ceramic clock —- Stacey Nanser-Knight

 

 

Red foxy cups Stacey Manser-Knight

 

 

Stacey Manser-Knight nesting blue birds

 

 

Flower head lady – Stacey Manser-Knight

 

 

Stacey Manser-Knight floral jug

 

 

Stacey Manser-Knight unicorn and flowers relief cup

 

 

Stacey Manser-Knight — leggy cups

 

 

Stacey Manser-Knight — mermaid mantle clock

 

 

Stacey Manser-Knight — red poppy jug

“Not just for sad memories, poppies are a symbol of renewal and strength, they can survive years as a dormant seed and germinate when the earth is turned and better conditions prevail. Gotta love a survivor like that”

 

Stacey-manser-Knight – Diva sweet dish

 

 

Stacey Manser-Knight nesting bluebirds dish

 

 

Stacey Manser-Knight – giant ceramic ribbed mug

 

 

Stacey Manser-Knight — Underglaze and over piping with glaze and lustre trees jug

 

 

Stacey Manser-Knight — relief bluebird in tree landscape vase

 

 

‘A great day for the washing’  large jug – Stacey Manser-Knight

 

 

 

 

Busy day at the outdoor office  —  Stacey Manser-Knight

 

 

‘Mushroom and Birdy shakers’ – Stacey Manser-Knight

 

 

Footed tri mouth vase–Stacey Manser-Knight

 

 

‘Birds in the old cherry tree’ lidded vessel – Stacey Manser-Knight

 

 

‘I Jus Woke Up Like This’ jug —  Stacey Mansur Knight

Bluestone Gallery

 

 

‘Barefooted in the giant dark woods’ — Stacey Manser-Knight

 

 

‘Black and orange swirly trees’ cup – Stacey Manser-Knight

 

 

Hare in field jug – Stacey Manser-Knight

 

 

Stacey Manser-Knight—Mermaid jug

 

 

‘Naughty fox in the corn’– ceramic dish by Stacey Manser-Knight

 

 

‘Simple birds riding the waves’  — Stacey Manser-Knight

 

 

‘Space Daisy’s milk jug’— Stacey Manser-Knight

 

 

Stacey Manser-Knight—cup and swimming Lady in red bathing costume and heels

 

 

Floral garden cup—Stacey Manser-Knight

 

 

Deep green teapot — Stacey Manser-Knight

 

 

‘Growing the Veg’ – large sturdy mug

 

Instagram – @staceypumpkin

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