Two female American clayart creatives in the English countryside
A perfect antiidote for grey overcast skies is colouful, uplifting, dercorative objects and both of the female ceramicists below employ a natural illustrative freedom and flair that elevates the spirit. Sharon Laslett’s flowing brushstrokes flow like a capricious breeze to emulate her Californian free spirit, which she has transplanted to Essex. Likewise, Stacey Manser Knight expresess a delightful innocence and idiosynchratic whimsy from her studio in Brighton, channeling the seaside and her chidhood memories of visits to the woods and all the flora and fauna she discovered.
Sharon Laslett
Sharon Laslett – Orange Jug
The process of throwing, turning and decorating always feels fresh and new to me, each piece taking on a life of its own. My inspiration for ceramic decoration comes from a combination of shapes found in nature, memories of light and colour found in California, where I lived for many years, and artists such as Matisse and Kandinsky along with the lavishly decorated Iznik pottery of Turkey. My clay of choice is Valentine’s KGM Body, which I love for its smoothness and creamy colour, and the fact that it can also be fired to stoneware temperature. In addition, I use a standard terracotta for those earthy days! The longer I work with clay the more I want to explore its malleable qualities. I love to poke and prod, sometimes until I ruin a piece, just to see exactly how far I can push those plastic boundaries. Sharon is based in her small back garden studio on the Hertfordshire and Essex border in Bishop’s Stortford.
Sharon Laslett folded vase — ‘Imperfection feeds the Soul’
Sharon Laslett — Pink Rim Shallow Dish
The Tudor House Gallery
Sharon Laslett — ‘A Sculpture-–-Landscape of my Mind’
Set of Sundae Dishes–Sharon Laslett
Blue cobalt jug series – Sharon Laslett
‘Simply Bisque’ – Sharon Laslett
Sharon Laslett stoneware fish serving plate
Sharon Laslett spring series dipping bowls
Sharon Laslett
Spring salad bowl – Sharon Laslett
White earthenware hand-painted with underglaze and sealed with clear glaze.
Sharon Laslett ceramic bottle vessels
Shallow dish with walking figure – Sharon Laslett
‘Giving Bowl’ – Sharon Laslett
Stoneware Sake set decorated by hand with cobalt oxide – Sharon Laslett
Orange highlight terracotta Baking Dish
Inspired by a Buddhist mandala, this sgraffito baking dish is both practical and colourful.
Three Posy Pots – Sharon Laslett
Iznik inspired pedestal Bowl Medium – Sharon Laslett
‘Stay sane make art’ plate — Sharon Laslett
Sharon Laslett pottery vessels
Sharon Laslet – Avocado and treal ceramic cups
Large Scallop dish – Sharon Laslett
Large Scallop dish – Sharon Laslett
Relief dish with the words, “See the daisies under your feet and the stars above you”
‘Funky Jug’ — Sharon Laslett
Inside Funky jug — Sharon Laslett
Sharon Laslett jug
Sharon Laslett — functional pottery wares
Cobalt blue on white bird plate -Sharon Laslett
Sharon Lazlett
Stacey Manser-Knight
“I am largely self-taught. Over many years I have worked to develop my skills and style, and make highly decorative but functional pieces. I work in red earthenware clay which is coated with a white clay slip layer. This gives me a surface to draw through. Once the piece has reached a near dry state, I illustrate it and pipe on a thick clay preparation, to achieve the raised surfaces. This is then fired, coloured and then a clear over glaze applied. Fired once more, it is now ready for the gold lustre rim highlights and, on-glaze details, such as the stripes on bees. For inspiration I use happy memories. I have no set designs so all pieces are individual.”
I was born in the U.S.A & grew up in New York and Oxford in England where I studied art at Oxford’s Banbury Art School and at Brighton University.
Stacey Manser-Knight-jug with field flowers and stream
‘In the woods’ ceramic clock —- Stacey Nanser-Knight
Remembering all those childhood walks in Bagley woods, with a few ‘Ceps’ thrown in from the Brittany woods walks. All the things you’d find in the woodland, in various seasons- thrown together with a spoon of artistic license. That’s the best part of making it up!
‘In the woods’ ceramic clock —- Stacey Nanser-Knight
Red foxy cups Stacey Manser-Knight
Stacey Manser-Knight nesting blue birds
Flower head lady – Stacey Manser-Knight
Stacey Manser-Knight floral jug
Stacey Manser-Knight unicorn and flowers relief cup
Stacey Manser-Knight — leggy cups
Stacey Manser-Knight — mermaid mantle clock
Stacey Manser-Knight — red poppy jug
“Not just for sad memories, poppies are a symbol of renewal and strength, they can survive years as a dormant seed and germinate when the earth is turned and better conditions prevail. Gotta love a survivor like that”
Stacey-manser-Knight – Diva sweet dish
Stacey Manser-Knight nesting bluebirds dish
Stacey Manser-Knight – giant ceramic ribbed mug
Stacey Manser-Knight — Underglaze and over piping with glaze and lustre trees jug
Stacey Manser-Knight — relief bluebird in tree landscape vase
‘A great day for the washing’ large jug – Stacey Manser-Knight
Busy day at the outdoor office — Stacey Manser-Knight
‘Mushroom and Birdy shakers’ – Stacey Manser-Knight
Footed tri mouth vase–Stacey Manser-Knight
‘Birds in the old cherry tree’ lidded vessel – Stacey Manser-Knight
‘I Jus Woke Up Like This’ jug — Stacey Mansur Knight
Bluestone Gallery
‘Barefooted in the giant dark woods’ — Stacey Manser-Knight
‘Black and orange swirly trees’ cup – Stacey Manser-Knight
Hare in field jug – Stacey Manser-Knight
Stacey Manser-Knight—Mermaid jug
‘Naughty fox in the corn’– ceramic dish by Stacey Manser-Knight
‘Simple birds riding the waves’ — Stacey Manser-Knight
‘Space Daisy’s milk jug’— Stacey Manser-Knight
Stacey Manser-Knight—cup and swimming Lady in red bathing costume and heels
Floral garden cup—Stacey Manser-Knight
Deep green teapot — Stacey Manser-Knight
‘Growing the Veg’ – large sturdy mug
Instagram – @staceypumpkin
Stacey Manser Knight Ceramics on Facebook
