Gannet

Description

Michaela loves this poem, written by Chris – the freedom of a bird in flight and in particular the beauty of the gannets..

In trying to capture the swift movement of gannets through the air as they sweep across the water, the words flow behind the bird, like air disturbed by their flight. The gannet was drawn in first and the words added to create the flow, using individual letter stamps and letting the words flow.

Once created, the picture was placed between two pieces of plasterboard, to dry evenly. Clay becomes very fragile at this point, so filling the kiln is a slow and careful process! The work is then fired up to 1000 degrees before being cooled ready for taking each piece out for glazing.

Black underglaze was added to this piece then wiped back to reveal the lines and words. Colour is then added to highlight the bird and the swooping winds. Aren’t gannets so beautiful?

Once fired again, this time to 1240 degrees, we open the kiln nervously and thankfully all was well and Chris could make the frame, ready for you!

Framed, this ceramic artwork measures 36 x 30cm