Coleford Pottery

Liz Stace

Clay has allowed me to find the creative skills which had lain dormant for many years. I have been able to use its qualities to help me to make the variety of things I now produce. I have seen how other people have used this material and, hopefully, I have learned to keep exploring new areas. I try never to make direct copies of other potters' work but perhaps allow their ideas to permeate my sub-conscious to create new themes in my own new work.

I've been tutoring for over 16 years in a variety of studios but now I only hold classes in my own workshop in Coleford Pottery. These classes are small because I like to give individual tuition. I cover all aspects of clay construction including handbuilding methods, wheel work and the many types of decorative techniques. I hope that I can give students the confidence to succeed in using their own creative skills to make their choice of ceramic items using the endless possibilities which clay offers.

My own work is usually wheel thrown but I also make slab and coil pots. I'm not a production potter so my work consists of individual items. This means that if I'm repeating a particular shape, like a set of bowls, these are similar but not identical. I enjoy experimenting with all types of surface effects including using a mixture of coloured slips, underglaze colours, glass and new glaze recipes. I like creating different textures by impressing, carving or applying thin layers of clay to make surface patterns. I'm always looking to increase my knowledge and improve my techniques.