Today we will be chatting to the ceramicist Wendy Calder.
1) What initially sparked your interest in pottery, and why did you decide to pursue this further?
Mr. Adams, the new art teacher at my school, inspired my interest in ceramics. We’d spend nearly every lesson doing still life drawings before he turned up! Then we tried ceramics, batik, sculpture, textiles…
I then went on to do an Art Foundation course to try more avenues, but still had the pottery bug by the end of the year and pursued a Ceramics degree in Bath.
2) Could you offer a sneak peek into a new technique or style you're excited to explore in the future?
I love printing onto clay and I’m testing new monoprints on my pieces at the moment. I just need to find more time to play and more patience waiting for the test pieces to dry and be fired! You definitely can’t rush the ceramic process.
3) What challenges have you faced in your crafting career, and how have you overcome them?
The biggest challenge is the medium itself and learning what stage is the right stage, for building, for decorating, for firing! Controlling the clay is crucial. As most things in life, you learn from when things have gone wrong.
4) What advice would you give to aspiring craft artists looking to turn their passion into a successful career?
I’ve been teaching ceramics for many years now and it’s very rewarding when my students get the pottery bug and want to pursue it more. It’s very rewarding making something out of mud and producing a fired piece at the end. For those that have gone on to get their own kiln, I tell them to have fun and play, try different making and surface techniques and test, test, test.
5) Share a heart warming tale of a crafting project that not only brought you joy but also created a special connection with its recipient or the audience.
I spent a week at my local primary school, working with my daughter’s year group, designing and making a ceramic wall mural. It’s was to be hung at the brand new school they were building. It was great seeing the kids be so creative and producing wonderful pieces about their school journey. Sadly, the new build was delayed so the yr6 never got to attend, but it was wonderful hanging the mural knowing a little piece of them was going to be permanently on the walls.
Now for a few fun questions...
6) What is your favourite restaurant in Bristol and why?
La Panza, a lovely little restaurant serving Italian dishes opposite St.Mary Redcliffe church. Small, friendly and delicious food.
7) Tell us about a book you've read recently that you would recommend to a friend.
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus was a great read.
8) Which TV series are you currently hooked on?
I’ve just binge watched Blue Lights on iPlayer. Great cast and well written.
9) If you could master any skill instantly, what would it be?
I’d love to bake like my Mum. She seems to guess most measurements and everything turns out amazing!
10) And lastly, where do you shop to buy your cards and gifts? High street shops, online or elsewhere?
I buy nearly all my cards at my stockists when I’m dropping work off and get tend to buy gifts from local makers at gift fairs or on Etsy.