Falling for British Artists

I’ve always known I wanted to paint flowers… always. However, in the last couple of years I’ve been dipping my toe in the waters of landscape painting and I love it. Finding one’s own voice is difficult when trying something new. At least that is the case for me. So, I’ve been researching landscape artists of the past to see what it is that I appreciate or want to see in the landscape paintings that I so love. Of course, landscape artists cannot be discussed without including John Constable. I absolutely love his dreamy depictions of the English country side with crowed grasses and voluminous skies layered with fluffy clouds in the prettiest of greys and blues. How lucky we are to be able to go back in time to the 18th century English country through his works! I’m not sure what I will be able to draw from his landscapes skill wise, but I am definitely inspired and in awe.

The same is true for my pottery journey. There are things that have always been true for me. Even though I enjoy seeing lovely sculptures of all kinds, I want to create beautiful functional objects that are handled and used daily while adding a sense of visual pleasure to the spaces in which they live. After studying many artists, it’s the work of British artist, Mike Dodd that I feel a deep connection with. I’ve found that shapes have not change much over the last few thousand years, but the colors, decorations and textures have changed drastically over time. But it’s the soft forms and limited, natural color palette of Mr. Dodd’s pots that speak to me. His work is beautiful, and I am trying to soak up all I can of how tiny little marks can give life to a vase or a simple line can give interest to a cup. There were several other British potters that make the pots I dream of, but he stood out for the simplicity of forms and decorations.

Tomorrow it is back to the pottery studio and to see how all this research will affect my work. I'm so excited.

I hope you are having a wonderful week!

Carolina