anna binns
ceramics
The beginning.
My journey started with a dream to create beautiful, handcrafted ceramics and with just a small utility room to work in and a very understanding Husband, I was able to begin.
Working in such a small space and the entrance to our house was a little difficult at you might imagine (!) but luckily and out of the blue, a moment of good fortune found me in the shape of a small legacy. It was this that saw my beloved pottery start to take shape!
In Spring 2019, in a corner of the garden where the squirrels and wild birds delight, the base was laid and the pottery erected! In great excitement and anticipation for the future a new kiln was purchased and my heart simply soared as I settled happily into my long-awaited ‘Pottery Shed’ as it is so fondly known.
My ideas & creations.
I’d say I’m mainly a figurative ceramicist with my recent contemporary work showcasing my lifelong love of colour and pattern. I have an enduring fascination with sculpting people and animals drawn from a pure imaginary world. At the beginning of any design is my sense of fun and an ambition to create a quirky and unique character! The more amusing the kiln folk look the happier I am, and my wish is that my delight in making them shows through.
Techniques,
glazes & firing.
All pieces are individually and lovingly hand crafted using a mixture of slab, coil and pinch techniques.
Coloured slips, which are basically runny clay, are sometimes applied at leather hard stage prior to the bisque firing. This is the first firing which gets all the moisture out, often known as the biscuit firing.
I love the next stage where the work is coloured and decorated using a mixture of metal oxides, underglaze colours, glaze crayons and occasionally decal transfers. I love to carefully mask with paper and tape to create even more fabulous designs prior to applying beautiful hand brushed glazes. The pieces are then ready for their second earthenware glaze firing to 1060°.
A third firing following further glazes is not unusual to ensure that final rich colour. Each figure from start to finish may take me several weeks to complete while the smaller kiln creatures take a little less time.
Opening the Kiln.
The best and most exciting time is opening the kiln after a glaze firing! So many times I find myself holding my breath as I slowly lift the lid, feeling that rush of heat and hoping everything looks exactly how I imagined it would!!
It’s a Christmas morning childhood experience every time!! My eyes light up at the sight of all my zany kiln folk and the wee kiln creatures looking back up at me and I hope they give you as much joy and delight on seeing them and having them as I enjoy in the making.