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Penny White - Current Creative Philosophy and Working Method

The fluid and abstract elements found in natural patterns fascinate me and I am intrigued by the dynamics of nature – wind etched rock, driven sand, crystalline shapes of cooling volcanic flow, the path of water.  All these things drive the shapes that I make.

By combining hand building and smoke firing, I can capture many of the organic and tactile qualities that inspire these ceramics.  I work as intuitively as possible and the techniques used make each piece unique in both form and finish.

Each piece is coiled and the shape refined, painted with coloured slip and burnished to produce surface shine.  After bisque firing in an electric kiln, I apply masks and the whole is covered with thick clay slurry before being smoke-fired in a simple brick kiln with sawdust, shavings and paper.  After cleaning, the work is polished with pure bees wax to enhance depth of colour and shine.