Here is an example of my latest work.
This is why I made it:
I enjoy the quiet, contemplative qualities inherent in working with clay. My work at present focuses on my everyday life and what it means to me – in particular how everyday things and events, which may seem banal on the surface, actually offer a wealth of meaning and experience if approached in a contemplative, mindful way.
To this end I have decided to produce a series of drawings of the various things that interest or concern me in my daily life. Recently I produced some drawings relating to domestic animals, and in particular the various dogs I encounter. Using ink and wet paper, I have tried to produce images that quickly capture the essence of the subject. Then I use these images as a resource to produce ceramics, trying to capture the same swiftness of line. The vessel in this photo isn’t particularly successful, because it is perhaps a little too sentimental, but I hope it may give an idea of what I’m trying to create. And perhaps it is right that it is sentimental, because this is my dog and I love her a surprising amount. Of course she is a substitute for my sons, the elder of whom is dead and the younger of whom is now an Angry Young Man who says I should learn to live without him. So this rather trite image actually contains several layers of meaning.
When I use these images it is important to me to create functional ceramic objects, which can become part of everyday life. I use one of these vessels and I think, ‘this is my life, this is my world’ and it creates a small moment of mindfulness; and I hope I can offer this moment to the other people who may use my work. I want these vessels to be part of a meal so they offer nourishment not just to me but to whoever uses them.
I suppose I am trying to ‘erase the line between art and life’ (Glen Adamson’s quote) . My work is hand-made, and I want it to look hand-made and not as though it comes from Ikea, by exhibiting the quirks of the hands that made it. But I hope this does not convey the idea of a debased craft – instead, I would like to honour my work with clay because I hope it offers an honest reference to the human condition and my place within it.
Rosie Venables: Ceramics 