These Gorgeous Ceramics are Inspired by the North East Coast
Danielle Pilling of Studio 9 Ceramics talks us through the creative process behind her unique designs
Tell us what you do.
I’m a potter and I make ceramic art forms in my studio at the bottom of my garden. At the moment, I’m in a bit of a phase of making almost-closed forms. I’m drawn to the circle, so even when I plan to make something else, I often turn around to find I’ve made a whole batch of circular forms.
All my work is influenced by the North East coastline. I take lots of photographs and fill my sketchbook with drawings and paintings when I’m at the beach then head back to the studio to create paintings. I’ve always enjoyed painting and grew up with a house full of seascapes. I find my painting practice is an important journey to get to the ceramic decoration – it gives me a process of observing colour and texture that I transfer to my clay. You’ll find that one side of my studio is covered in oil paint, the other in clay!
What’s your background?
I studied graphic design at university, which gave me a great grounding in design and colour theory. I then went on to teach, spending over 20 years immersed in all forms of creativity from printmaking to glass fusing. However painting and ceramics have always been my go-to mediums when making for my own pleasure. For my 40th birthday I received a potter’s wheel – and I completely immersed myself in ceramics from that moment on. My studio is at the bottom of our garden, and if I’m not in there, I’m usually knee-deep in the flower borders planting something I’ve grown from seed (or rescued from the garden centre!).
Where do you source your materials?
Ceramic materials are expensive! I tend to shop around for the best value, but I get my clay directly from the supplier on half-ton pallets. Clay delivery day is always ‘fun’ – especially carrying it all down to the bottom of the garden!
I make all my own glazes. I buy raw materials, sit down with my recipe book, and, wearing full safety gear, start mixing – looking a bit like something out of Breaking Bad. I’m really careful with glaze safety, but I love the chemistry and creativity involved.
Where do you find inspiration?
Walks along the beach, any time of year. I love a blustery day with strong, powerful waves crashing against the rocks. There’s an energy there that’s both comforting and grounding. It gives me perspective, and a lot of ideas for colour and texture.
What’s your typical day?
Well you can’t make a pot in a day… it’s a timely process made up of many different stages. However, a cup of tea is a must to start with, then a look through my sketchbook and notes, followed by a quick plant check on the way to the studio (overnight growth inspections are important).
Radio on, apron on, then wedging and weighing clay for a throwing session. Wedging is the hardest part – it’s a bit of a work out but it’s a must as it removes air pockets, and gets the clay consistent throughout, which makes the wheel throwing so much easier. I usually throw around 10 pieces at a time, leave them outside to dry a little, and then go back for more. Sometimes it’s 30 pieces in a day, sometimes one larger vessel. Once the clay is firm enough, I ‘turn’ the pots – one of my favourite stages, refining the shape with metal tools. If you’ve ever watched a wood turner video online it’s more or less the same as this and definitely satisfying!
Then all the work needs to dry before it can have its first bisque firing. Drying can take a few days or a few weeks depending on the weather. In winter, my house fills up with pots drying around the log burners!
Then it’s glazing which is a full-day job – mixing glazes, checking specific gravity for the right consistency, waxing the bases of bisque-fired pots, and then layering glazes inspired by my paintings. The final firing goes to 1,260C and takes about three days to heat and cool. Those three days feels like a week as I’m so excited to open the kiln, this bit has never faded. It’s always magical when I finally open it to see the results.
What’s the hardest part?
The physical lifting – clay, 10-litre tubs of glaze, boxes of finished work. I’ve definitely gained some muscle working with clay (and likely some back injuries!). I’ve learned to take kiln disasters in my stride, they don’t happen often but it’s the nature of the medium that some things don’t always survive the processes. To be honest I really enjoy the experimenting and the risk-taking that comes with the process so some mishaps are expected along the way… it’s part of the learning and that never stops with ceramics.
What’s the best part?
Opening the kiln, without a doubt. But also knowing my work is in people’s homes, part of their lives. That’s incredibly humbling. Seeing my pieces in galleries still makes me pinch myself. I think I can, in a quiet voice, call myself an artist.
Tell us about a favourite recent creation.
Every piece takes so much time and attention that I feel I have a relationship with it. I nurture each one before sending it into the world. They all carry my time, my energy, and my thought process – a little part of me. Personally my favourites are The Headland Collection with the big bold black circles, they shout out, demand attention and have a rawness to them. I’d always visited the Baltic as a child and dreamed of exhibiting there so when one of the Headland pieces was selected to be part of an exhibition in the Baltic last year, that was a really exciting and proud moment.
What are you currently working on?
The list is endless! I’m exploring larger-scale vessels and more experimental glazes. I’ve just launched The Edition Collection on my website (one-off, unique pieces) and I’m spending the next few months developing that further.
My ‘Family’ piece is a collection of vessels that sit together as one piece. It’s had a lot of interest, and I want to explore that more. I’m also preparing for Living North’s Christmas Fair!
Quick-fire Questions
Best place to eat/drink locally?
Let’s keep on topic and say Kiln in Newcastle – amazing food, plus you can watch the studio potters at work.
A TV show you recommend?
We love a family film night with snacks on the sofa, we’ve just watched How to Train Your Dragon and loved it.
An item you couldn’t live without?
My radio – it’s on from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to bed. Also, handmade earrings (the bigger the better) and Earl Grey tea. That’s three, but equally important!
Best snack for a long journey?
Grapes – simple, guilt-free, never disappointing.
