Liz Stace

I've been working with clay for about 28 years now. During that time I have qualified in City & Guilds Part 1 & 2, attended a variety of courses and enjoyed Master Days arranged by The Kent Potters' Association. I have also graduated in a History and Theory of Art degree. This allowed me to examine a wide range of approaches to art and encouraged me to apply this knowledge to my work.

I tutor classes in my own studio and I also give ceramic advice in local primary schools. My current work concentrates on wheel thrown, functional, domestic pieces which include: bottles of various shapes, vases, bowls of all sizes, jugs, plates, mugs and candle holders. I enjoy making handbuilt forms for a change and I also produce a small amount of raku items. I hope to do more work on layer pots, which are fun to make, and slab pyramid-style pots with slip decoration.

During 2005 and 2006, I travelled in the South Paciific and New Zealand. Such wonderful visual experiences influenced my work, making it, I think, much more fluid and colourful. Ocean bowls, trees and layer pots are a product of these travels. The ocean bowls are one off pieces which are thrown and afterwards I alter the rims. The glaze effect is achieved by applying several layers of glaze in different thicknesses. Texture is a big part of my work which can be seen on my trees, wall pieces and a new series of tall vases with applied clay necklaces. Colour is also important to me. Each year I try to create a new glaze to add to the other glazes I use. The colours include a dusty pale green, dark green, mottled pale blue, turquoise speckle, a glossy turquoise and a dark midnight blue, and perhaps this year will bring a completely new glaze?