Claire Prenton - Gallery
Claire Prenton Ceramic Art
The Galleries
Please click on the links to the left, or the photographs below, to browse the galleries.
Sea
This is my latest collection inspired by the sea. I used white clay and worked in a more organic way, often allowing the clay to suggest the shapes and forms resulting in fine and beautifully lightweight pottery. I used textures and images of the sea such as coral, shells, sea urchins, plants and sea life. The pieces were stained then fired using both matt and gloss glaze and then in a third firing decals and mother of pearl luster were applied.
Victorian
A love of all things Victorian, I can’t help but be seduced by the opulence and richness associated with the Victorian era. I looked at the clothes and costumes, the beautiful line of a collar the detail of a cuff the sumptuousness of the fabrics. The vases are terracotta and glazed with rich deep colors, I used butterfly and moth decals again to fit in with the theme of collecting.
Tulip Tower
Tulip towers or flower pyramids were popular circa 1600 when tulips where highly prized and valuable, made from Dutch delft ware they would be stacked over a meter high. I wanted my piece to become a temple or shrine to my love of collecting. My tower is made from Terracotta, many of the items on the tower are of personal significance; some of the items have been collected and carried with me for much of my life. The paintings are underglaze with areas of clear glaze. Small items of porcelain are displayed in the tower, such as handmade coral, shells and found antique dolls. Each section is a vase that can be filled with water and used to display flowers; the top area is left open to display my latest find.
Botanical
I am a gardener at heart; it’s in my blood. My parents were passionate gardeners so my love and appreciation of the natural world started at a very young age. In this piece I chose to paint tulips. Throughout history they have been prized and to me their arrival is a welcome sign that spring is beginning. I like to work with a terra cotta that is mixed with sand; it has a coarse feel, which I really like as it reminds me of working with soil.
Beach
I can’t think of anything more enjoyable that strolling along a deserted beach and discovering what gifts have been left by the sea. Not only are the shells and pebbles beautiful, but more than that they hold the memories of that moment in time. Some of the shells and pebbles painted on these pieces are ones I have collected on vacations to Hawaii or while sea kayaking around the San Juan Islands, each one with its own special memory.
Garden
I think that the garden and pottery are a natural partnership. In my totem piece I was able to make many smaller parts and then thread them together like beads to form a totem. This allowed me to experiment with different glazes and textures. The design of my totem was inspired by my garden in England; I included my favorite flowers and small shards of china and rusty keys similar to the ones I would find while digging. To me a garden wouldn’t be a garden without wildlife, so it was important for that to be included in the design. Bowls can hold seeds, small holes would become insect homes and the top of the totem is a bird bath.
Bright and Bold
This collection is vibrant and full of life; it’s a celebration of pattern and color. These vases show pots within pots; my inspiration came from my collection of 1950’s pottery.
Jewelry
Porcelain earrings, my earring are made from the finest porcelain, each one is a unique miniature work of art. I use only sterling silver or 14K rolled gold wires and hooks. Many of the beads used are semi-precious or vintage and because they are so very light weight they are heavenly to wear.
Textiles
This gallery is a small sample of my textiles work; the purses were designed to be fun and to be used. Many of the buttons and beads are vintage and I like to think of them coming back to life in my creations. Each purse has been given its own name as they are all very individual, each with its own personality.