23/07/2025
Hand building has become a sacred practice, and a way to be totally in touch with my own experiences. It always amazes me what my hands end up creating, I often start with a simple piece of clay and have no idea where the process will take me. I have learnt that control plays a huge part in my life, I watched significant people around me be controlled by fear as I grew, and this passed on to me, and developed my need to control and fuelled my lacking in self belief. Through slowly learning what safety is, and trusting another person to keep me safe, I have been able to reshape myself to become a freeer version of me, who is more aligned with how I want to feel, and be aware of my inner strengths. The strength I feel comes out as creativity, it’s the only time I can say that I feel totally comfortable, and ok with pushing boundaries and being around something that begins as unknown. As the clay develops its own story, combined with my energy and alignment, my hands and the clay move with the narrative that’s forming, which actually feels really comforting. The unknown has never been a comfortable experience before, so finding this within my connection with ceramics and creativity has made me feel a sense of wholeness, and be unapologetic about my work and the stories it tells as art. The clay has supported me to become a more versatile and natural version of me, and even though sometimes the forms that appear bring up old insecurities, I have a deep appreciation for them and how they have survived! I have become more comfortable being with myself, cracks and all.. and my experience of needing control has become less intrusive! I believe we all can find a way through tough times, and clay is certainly the unexpected friendship that is unique to me and then what it provides for others. From my hands to yours, is giving me the opportunity to pass on my intentions to others, and for them to connect with each piece and experience what it individually means to them. I would love to hear what creativity means to you, and how your craft tells a story about your process!
