|
Christine is my mom.
She was a multidisciplinary artist, she spent her childhood in a small village in the South West of England. There she developed her appreciation of Mother Nature and her creation. Trained as a school teacher, specialising in Cookery, Needlework and Arts & Crafts. Wanting to expand her horizons she moved to Spain where she married and raised her family. She has illustrated nature to assist in awakening awareness of its need of conservation. Creating healing labyrinths had been a recent part of her life. |
In Mom's own words....
“It's been a long journey and I'm still travelling down the road of a life of appreciation of Mother Nature's works of art, a perfection I will never achieve however much I try.
My young hands made bead necklaces then progressed to dressmaking and creative cooking, both useful talents when raising my family. Soft furnishings brought an income as a single parent.
My love of nature has contributed to my artworks and their use in nature conservation especially in The Empordan Wetlands in Catalonia.
Working with clay opened new ways of expressing myself.
Introducing Labyrinths to the public in Eco trade fairs in Girona, Catalonia inspired me to make Finger Labyrinths.
Looking back over the years I see my journey with clay.
My first contact with clay was during my training as a Domestic Science and Art & Craft teacher.
When Alan Brough, a dear friend and potter, first saw my work that I had made hand building with 'coils' at evening classes at the Plymouth College of Art with Chris Smith during my time when teaching in Saltash, Cornwall, he suggested I open my own pottery studio instead of going to live in Spain. It is only now, some fifty years later that I have my own space to "mess about with clay" in Ireland.
Many years later I had the opportunity to work with clay. At the Escola de Belles Arts de Salt, Girona, with Carlets I learnt about Rakú, Pitfiring and the use of salts.
In the Potters' Museum of Quart I used the wheel under the guidance of Josep Mestres, Jaume Marcó, Eloi Mora, Pere Ginesta and Pere Mateu, all Master Potters! It'll take me a long time, if ever, to reach their standards. The pots I made are traditional shapes fired in the typical wood fired reduction kilns of Quart, Girona, in Spain.
I have exhibited with "Artistes Cel Obert" (Open Sky Artists) in The Potters' Museum in Quart, Girona, Catalonia."
My first contact with clay was during my training as a Domestic Science and Art & Craft teacher.
When Alan Brough, a dear friend and potter, first saw my work that I had made hand building with 'coils' at evening classes at the Plymouth College of Art with Chris Smith during my time when teaching in Saltash, Cornwall, he suggested I open my own pottery studio instead of going to live in Spain. It is only now, some fifty years later that I have my own space to "mess about with clay" in Ireland.
Many years later I had the opportunity to work with clay. At the Escola de Belles Arts de Salt, Girona, with Carlets I learnt about Rakú, Pitfiring and the use of salts.
In the Potters' Museum of Quart I used the wheel under the guidance of Josep Mestres, Jaume Marcó, Eloi Mora, Pere Ginesta and Pere Mateu, all Master Potters! It'll take me a long time, if ever, to reach their standards. The pots I made are traditional shapes fired in the typical wood fired reduction kilns of Quart, Girona, in Spain.
I have exhibited with "Artistes Cel Obert" (Open Sky Artists) in The Potters' Museum in Quart, Girona, Catalonia."
Tripple Spiral Finger Labyrith inspired by a rock carving inside the chamber of Newgrange, Donore, Co. Meath.
Pit fired hand built pots
|
|
Tube potsA selection of tube pots showing various decoration techniques.
|
|
Hand built potsHandmade terracota pots fired in a gas kiln.
|
|
Publications for nature conservation
|
New year bookmarks for IAEDEN,
Catalan nature conservation NGO |
Selection of bird
greetings cards |
Most of us are delighted to see butterflies flitting from flower to flower, drinking nectar and pollinating them. They lay their eggs on certain plants to ensure newly hatched caterpillars will have food to grow before turning into chrysalides to then emerge as butterflies.
The use of herbicides and pesticides has caused much damage to their habitats and reduced their population. Manicured lawns do not contribute to biodiversity. If we want to help bees, birds, butterflies and other insects we can do so by allowing part or all of our gardens to re-wild with native trees and plants and making certain we have butterfly friendly plants and flowers.
Some years ago Mom was asked to design a pamphlet depicting the butterflies of the Empordà Wetlands Nature Reserve in Catalonia. She has since created greetings cards of butterflies and plants of Ireland.
The cards are blank inside.
The use of herbicides and pesticides has caused much damage to their habitats and reduced their population. Manicured lawns do not contribute to biodiversity. If we want to help bees, birds, butterflies and other insects we can do so by allowing part or all of our gardens to re-wild with native trees and plants and making certain we have butterfly friendly plants and flowers.
Some years ago Mom was asked to design a pamphlet depicting the butterflies of the Empordà Wetlands Nature Reserve in Catalonia. She has since created greetings cards of butterflies and plants of Ireland.
The cards are blank inside.
|
|
Tryptic Butterfly and plant identification Parc Natural dels Aiguamolls de l´Empordà. Catalunya
Blank Greeting Cards
available on request
available on request
