Having started my pottery life under the influence and teaching of well-known potters such as Yvonne Rust and Len Castle, and lesser-known Margaret Radford, I’ve always been mindful of quality, ensuring form, materials and finishes are fit for design and purpose.
Every design has the question, why is this in clay medium and no other.
My passion is from the Caribbean and New Zealand. The colours, architecture and spirit of my birth island still influences my work, along with beautiful flora and fauna of my home country New Zealand.
As clay is my dominant medium, I feel my creative space sits constantly at a crossroads between functional form, home decor and art.
As an artist I’m drawn in all these directions. All my pieces are passionately designed, whether created for the joy of using a practical item, or connecting with the soul
My ethos is this:
We’re drawn to colours and shapes that make our hearts sing.
Art and design in all forms has the power to heal, to reinvigorate, excite and project emotion.
Picasso once said ‘Art washes away from the soul the daily dust of everyday life’.
Flexibility and adaptability are crucial qualities for anyone taking the journey as a ceramic artist.
While having a vision of the desired outcome is important, it’s equally important to be open to unexpected results and embrace the possibilities that arise from the creative process.
Ceramics is a medium that can be unpredictable due to the various factors involved, such as the clay body, glazes, firing techniques, and kiln conditions. Embracing the inherent variability of the medium allows one to explore new directions, discover unique textures or colours, and even stumble upon happy accidents that lead to unexpected beauty.
When the ceramic artist has pottery for sale, a buyer may never know if their purchase had a planned outcome or was a disappointment for them.
Being open to paradigm shifts and adapting to different results is not only essential for personal artistic growth but also for pushing the boundaries of the field. As I’m now teaching ceramics, I’m hesitant about where and when I outline this to students. Some of the most groundbreaking techniques and styles in ceramics have emerged from artists embracing unexpected outcomes and using them as a source of inspiration.
Remember that creativity often thrives in the space between intention and outcome. So, while it’s important to have a vision, it’s equally important to be open to the journey and to allow the clay, glazes, and firing processes to influence and shape the final result.
Here at Wilma J Design ceramic studio in Kihikihi, I wanted to have small groups who have a burning desire to create something for themselves with simple techniques, without the details of deeper technical knowledge, some of which may be picked up along the way, but not an essential for a successful outcome. Being a pottery teacher in one’s own studio in New Zealand is a great way to be flexible without the constraints of a government-set curriculum.
And the final result is not final. It is often one-stepping stone to further development, and while initially disappointment can overtake one’s soul, it’s important to remember, tomorrow is another opportunity to build on the foundation and improve and refine.
Wilma
I’ve been a ceramic artist all my life, and within that field re-invented myself every 5 – 7 years. Defining who I am, my life’s purpose is to create. I started off by calling myself a potter. I made pots on the wheel, but my real passion was wall art. I would imagine a painting and give it a 3D dimension.
It took me 20 years to discover I was a sculptor.
I’m used to living on the edge, sometimes falling off. My failures have been the best teachers, only second to great mentors.
I love being around like-minded people, and I’m now hosting boutique teaching classes, and workshops with a theme, to show others how to unpack their talent, to make ‘cool stuff’ for themselves. I love assisting and showing that complete beginners can have a result that looks like it’s come out of a gallery.
