An imagination fed by the Irish coast
- Grainne loves the endless possibilities of clay
- She uses hand-building and throwing techniques
- Her work is heavily inspired by natural forms
Gráinne Watts grew up in a creative household where making was part of life. Introduced to clay at the age of ten by her mother, Gráinne went on to study ceramics in Dublin before becoming an apprentice to Irish potter Geoffrey Healy in Bray, an experience that gave her a love for the potter’s wheel and an appreciation of the “painstaking discipline of repetition throwing”. Gráinne has recently moved to a new home and large studio space, in the creatively renowned area of Kilkenny, where she creates thrown and handbuilt vessels and sculptural forms, inspired by her interest in organic geometry, colour and pattern. Having lived by the Irish coastline all her life, she looks forward to exploring this new environment, in a part of Ireland that both is beautiful geographically and is home to many outstanding Makers.
INTERVIEW
I am drawn to pattern and form in nature, whether it is in the way the structure of organic forms evolves through uniform components or how surface pattern can alter or enhance a form. There is also a ‘randomness’ in nature that allows for the weird and wonderful to occur.
There is a rhythm in pattern and organic geometry that satisfies something in me. I use various colour combinations to evoke a response visually and emotionally. I like that the surface textures of my pieces are deceptive – they look soft but are hard to the touch.
I get totally engrossed in visually working out the placement of the initial layer of dots. I love the intense total immersion in the rhythm of the decorating process. There is a meditative aspect to this part of the making of a piece that focuses my mind.
My training as a repetition thrower taught me the value of pursuing a form until it was ‘right’ and not accepting less. I like to make numerous versions to explore the possibilities and figure out what works best. It’s an ongoing search for resolution to an original idea.
