Alice Maplesden

Mainly my work is thrown white stoneware, decorated with drawings and text inlaid in black slip. I draw into the dry clay using a sharp pin and fill the drawn sections with black slip, scraping away any excess clay with a metal kidney. The pot is then bisque fired, glazed with a transparent glaze and re-fired. A drawing is never planned before it is started; it just falls out of my head. I try never to make the same piece twice. I also make badges and coasters from porcelain, decorated in a similar style.

I doodle on everything, so when I was learning to throw on the wheel I just did what I normally do, and pots that weren't too great looked much better covered in creatures. Throwing was something that captured me right from the beginning, a totally sensual, addictive and messy process. Now my skills have improved I can make useful items and I can doodle with a purpose, hopefully making people smile in the process. My pots are not to be taken too seriously, there are no hidden messages or in-depth ideas – I am silly and so are my pots.

Prices range from:

Mug
stoneware

Bears Climbing Trees Plate
stoneware

View all ceramics by Alice Maplesden

cambridge contemporary art

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