Jane Silk
Artist statement
Together with my love of birds, the natural world has always been at the root of my inspiration. I now have the time to explore and experiment with new ideas and concepts. A keen walker and lover of the great outdoors, I intuitively respond to my surroundings and am currently especially inspired by cliff walking along the coast and rock formations over time. Weather and its impact on the environment, the power of the elements, erosion and decay - inspiration is everywhere. My work is predominantly hand built and sculptural, revealing my fascination for textural surface qualities and edges. I am excited by the colour variations and effects that can be achieved through experimentation with complex layers of treatment, using a range of clay bodies, slips, oxides and glazes.
My bird forms reflect my ongoing love of birds, their forms, behaviour and personalities. I enjoy pushing the exaggeration of their features and movement in an attempt to achieve the very essence of their ‘birdness’.
Artist Bio
I trained first at Berkshire College of Art and Design and then at Bath Academy of Art, Corsham, graduating in Ceramics and Three-Dimensional Design in 1973. This period was hugely influential to me and I owe a debt of gratitude to John Colbeck (Corsham) and before that especially to Peter Simpson (Maidenhead), who first introduced me to the joy of working with clay and its creative potential as a medium. Since then, having raised a family and had a rewarding full time career in teaching until my retirement, it is wonderful to be able to devote more time at last to my own work.
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