Claire Fairall

Item description: The Sitting Girl, Dimensions: 11 x 12 x 15cm

Photograph:

Biography: Smoke Fired Ceramic Sculpture

Many of Claire’s sculptures are inspired by the concept of motherhood. She attempts to reflect this in the varying moods of an expectant mother and through the ever changing complexities within a mother and daughters relationship.

Her pieces are created from red Terracotta clay, smoke fired to create the unusual coloring and shading, then waxed to produce a gentle sheen.

Terracotta clay appeals to her because it is a simple earth clay, which is smooth to handle, and burnishes to a remarkable shine even before firing. It has been used by potters and sculptors from the earliest times, and this inspires Claire greatly when creating. She likes to feel the connection, both with the earth, and with the past.  She hopes the emotions evoked by my sculptures are also timeless.

Smoke firing is of the utmost importance to Claire’s work. Without the subtle play of shading created by the smoke, she feels that my pieces would not "live".

Natural beeswax is the only finish used on these very tactile sculptures. It gives a beautiful gentle shine, without detracting from the earth essence of the pieces.