Making Friday: From Sketchbook to Oddject
Notebooks are very useful things to have with you. They’re good for recording fleeting ideas, and good to look back on to see where you’ve been. For two years, I’ve kept this little “Ceramics Ideas” notebook alongside my other general notebook, jotting down ideas for shapes I’d like to make in the Monday morning ceramics classes I’ve been taking with Louise Gelderblom.
In early March, I’ll be showing some of my ceramic ‘Oddjects‘ in an exhibition at my shop, and as I get ready for it, I’ve been looking back through my notebook, finding it interesting to see how my ideas and sketches have ended up as 3D objects.
After having spotted this artwork by Walter Pichler, I made a sketch which turned into the little Oddject called ‘Walter’ (below).
Oddject: Walter
At my favourite morning stop, there’s an old classroom chart of seeds and spores with a little ‘sputnik’ in the top corner, which ended up being my ‘Sputnik’ Oddject, below.
Oddject: Siamese
These ‘Bendy’ Oddjects are quite a challenge to make, and I had no idea how to do them when I made the sketches, so I’m really happy with the way they’ve turned out.
So, you get the picture. I’ve been drawing these things, then making them out of clay.
But then, in what has been an exciting extension of the process for me, I’ve been giving these Oddjects even more attention, spending time making prints on fabric, and doing some proper lino prints on paper at Warren Editions too. I’ve really dug in and spent time exploring these peculiar shapes that I keep making. And the best part is that all of this work in clay, paper and fabric was very much part of my Making Friday practise, where I just make things because I want to make them (not because of some deadline or commission or other commercial need).
Everyone who starts a business based on their creative output tends to have the same problem of never having time for making things, as the business needs always take over. Ever since starting Skinny laMinx, I have always been scrambling to produce, produce, produce, with my Making Fridays an occasional respite in the storm. But as the team has grown, and as there’s enough space in the business finances to employ people to do the bits I’m not so good at, I’ve had a lot more time to spend away from the shop, holed up at my Think Tank, or at pottery classes or learning about CMYK lino printing.
This leisurely process of exploring my peculiar shapes and forms across a number of media has been very special for me, not only because I’ve had a lot of fun doing it, but because it means that my business is sufficiently mature for me to have the time to design and think in a more considered, less frantic manner. Really, that’s all I could wish for.
Therefore, I want to say a big thanks to the whole of Team Skinny laMinx for giving me the time and space to dig in a bit deeper. I’m so happy my working life looks more like this these days, and I’m SO excited to have produced enough work (and a new textile) to justify a mini exhibition… and a brand new textile print too!
Sign up for my newsletter to hear all about the Oddjects exhibition and fabric launch on 3 March 2016. I can’t wait to show you all the things I’ve been making!
Click here to see the completed Oddjects textile print!
Lizzie in Sweden
I’m tickled pink to read this! Your shapes are so fun! It is fascinating and enriching to see them as they developed across different media, to finally double back and refill your well. As a quilter and former ceramist who loves the process as much as the product, I’m truly inspired!
skinnylaminx
Lizzie, thanks so much for the positive feedback, and for putting it so nicely. It really has been a treat, and my fingers are firmly crossed that I get to keep working like this in the future!
All the best,
Heather
Sue
What an inspiration! I am an amateur potter and sewer and ‘maker’ of gardens and houses and I am truly impressed by your ceramics. How wonderful that they have translated into a new fabric design, too. Can’t wait to see the exhibition.
Toni
You’ve got me inspired to just get making. I have all these ideas and often feel stuck before I’ve even started. Your beautiful work is a real inspiration to explore the same idea through different mediums. Thank you for sharing your creative process with us.
skinnylaminx
Hi Toni. You know, I often feel the same way – wanting to be sure that whatever I put my energy into will be worth the effort. But I generally trick myself into getting things done by pretending that I’m just going to fool around for a while, and then I end up with something I like very much! Glad to hear that you’re feeling inspired. Enjoy the process!
Best,
Heather
Shirley
Heather, how you tease me! If only this were available for viewing when I was in SA last fall. Bummer. Great stuff as usual!
Shirley
PS. Has anyone done any experiments into the thought process of artists? I’m curious what goes on in your mind. I’m a creative type but not like this.
skinnylaminx
Hmm, I’m sure there must be some research into that, but I think it’s probably a lot like any kind of creative thought process in any field: You make connections between things and then start exploring what those look like. I can imagine that scientists do exactly this, but with formulae / chemicals / materials rather than with clay or paper. Let me know if you come across anything interesting to read in the field.
x
Robin
Well done and as you say, lucky enough now to follow other dreams.
skinnylaminx
Thanks, Robin!