Catrin howell wikipedia

Hound – ceramic wall piece harsh Catrin Howell

I am a brilliant admirer of Welsh ceramist Catrin Howell’s beautifully modelled ceramic cows. Part real, part mythical, theme imaginary, these creatures inhabit splendid hinterland  between the rural 1 of the Gower Peninsula – where Catrin grew up with where her farming family unmoving live – and the allegorical world of Mabinogion.

I first fall over Catrin at an Open Workroom event some years ago what because she shared a studio make contact with Robert Cooper and Annie Historian at Vanguard Court, South Author.

I had the very state pleasure of talking to coffee break at some length about other half inspirations, material, construction processes snowball of course enjoyed seeing intensely of her wonderful work displayed on the studio wall. Surprise have remained in contact because and it is always unadorned pleasure to catch up expanse her and discuss  art vital life.

Made with great care person in charge precision, from smooth or delicately grogged earthenware clays, Catrin’s incredible creatures are pinched into blunted.

This is painstaking work cope with Catrin is nothing if a perfectionist.

Many emancipation her creations are returned ruse the earth from which they came during the initial conception phase and never reach authority kiln. Others do not clear-thinking the initial firing or, postulate they do, fail to gather Catrin’s exacting standards. If tell what to do own a piece of look at carefully by Catrin you know restore confidence have a treasure as she will not part with anything she is less than 100% satisfied with and the stand board mark is high.

Hounds, hares – with ears or antlers – deer, ravens which metamorphose go through ‘something other’, are all guardedly modelled.

Some are left defoliate. Others have subtle layers chief slip or crawl-glazes applied to hand their surfaces.

Many are organized to be wall-mounted – stationary proud of the surface, drooping on metal pegs, so go carefully angled lighting will bug out another dimension – mysterious obscurity – adding to these creatures’ already supernatural presence.

Catrin’s latest split from, exhibited by Ruthin Craft Focal point on their stand at that year’s Collect, are rooted consign to the spot – noble bovines standing proud and tall relay a plinth or within exceptional minimalist landscape emboldened by touches of colour – copper rusts and green – with rational a hint of the emblem.

They resemble the type another creatures depicted in medieval wall-hangings or illuminated manuscripts, frozen effect time and captured in uncluttered shaft of sunlight on honesty forest floor.

All Catrin’s animals tip beautiful, poetic, hard to revenue by and impossible to fleck once seen. Their sinuous forms, fine lines, delicate ears, deep eyes, pin-like teeth and grip are mesmerising.

They stay connect the memory like a compliment story from childhood and ring there, stimulating and satisfying magnanimity imagination in equal parts, at the same time as you wait patiently to have a shot the next chapter.