Making ceramic artworks with poetry

This is what we do here at seatree argyll – we use Chris’s words in the clay. We started with ceramic artworks with the very first piece we made with the poetry. This is a recent picture, with the swirls chosen as marks on the picture, as they symbolise the fingerprint but also the swirls of the seas.

It’s an interesting process, choosing how to make the words cross the clay – in straight lines or swirls or sweeping across – and how to bring the words to life. In this case, it was very satisfying to swirl around a sharp stick, creating the lines. The clay is then left to dry between two pieces of plasterboard, to help it dry evenly and flat. Once dry, the piece is fired on a light layer of clean sand, to help it expand and shrink in the heat and cooling of the kiln, so no unwelcome cracks appear.

The kiln is fired to 1000c then glaze is added. In this case, reds, oranges and blacks were used to highlight the lines and the words – we think it is very effective.

This is one of the few ceramic artworks we have left as 2025 draws to a close – give us a shout if the words appeal and you would like this to adorn your own wall. It retails at £160 and postage would be free.