Zoe Clare photographed by Manel Ortega
What’s your background?
In many ways, I’m still a newbie! I studied at Central Saint Martins after deciding to change career and become an artist. The minute I started working in 3D I just knew it was for me! I create organic forms inspired by nature, working mostly in clay and porcelain. For the past four years I’ve worked out of my studio at Phoenix Brighton.
Why have you started running courses at Phoenix?
I just love watching other people create, especially if I can help inspire them. I want to encourage participants to really experiment and push themselves, investigating new forms, ideas and shapes. As an artist, teaching gives me new ideas as well. Sometimes I’ll see a student do something which will inspire me. It’s quite a collaborative process.
What can participants expect?
My course is open to everyone, including total beginners. We’ll cover the basics, like practical techniques for working in clay. I’ll ask everyone to bring in something from nature that they like – it could be a flower or a pine cone – and we’ll use these as the basis for creating expressive, abstract forms. At the end of the course, the finished pieces will be fired and available for participants to take home.
Zoe’s course, Botanical Ceramics and Sculpture, begins on Thursday 7 June.
Find out more about Zoe on her website.
Image credit: Zoe Clare
