Chatting with Karen Williams, of Adrift Pottery

March, 2024

You live in a stunning place, and you have also lived in Japan, probably equally stunning. Many artists take up residencies to immerse themselves in another environment. If you were to work elsewhere, where would it be and how might it impact on what you make?

I do take inspiration from the stunning location where I live and work but if I were to work elsewhere and I could choose I would love to gather inspiration from Italy; the churches and landscape, and of course food. It would be exciting to see how my attitude towards making would change and indeed how I would translate all that imagery onto my pots. I did live in Japan for 3 years, many years ago and I believe that particular culture still has an impact on my work.

A view of the inspiring landscape by the studio

Your pottery is hand built and sculpted from clay – did you reject other techniques such as wheel work, to make this choice?

I didn’t particularly reject using the wheel - it naturally happened that I prefer working by hand building my pieces.  Quite possibly due to the fact that I studied Fine Art Sculpture when I did my degree. I love the wonkiness and total unique quality hand building gives. I often throw the foot onto pieces especially bowls but that’s probably the only time I use the wheel.

The beauty and charm of your work comes from the individuality of each piece. What influenced this way of working?

I think I am completely obsessed with drawing birds and foliage, consequently nature completely inspires me and each piece I make is handled with a fresh approach, even if I draw the same bird I like to give them their own individual personality.

How important is functionality if your work?

I love the idea that my work is functional. It’s a humbling feeling that total strangers buy and use my work daily and I often tell people that it can be used in the oven, microwave and dishwasher. Fairly often to their horror.

A series of Bird illustrated earthenware plates from the 2023 ‘Draw me a Drawing’ exhibition.

If you could have any piece of art of craft in your environment, what would you choose?

Right now I’m trying to renovate my very old cottage and most of the art work I have is in boxes but as soon as my home is finished I am looking forward to unpacking and seeing the pieces I have in their new place. I have to stop myself buying any new pieces, difficult!

2024 – any plans for the year?

I have a lot of commissions I’m working my way through, the tulipières have really become very popular and of course I never make two the same. I have a list as long as my arm for bird mugs.

Large garden bird tulipière, 2023

I constantly have new ideas whizzing around my head and there aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything out. I tend to start playing with the clay and just lose myself but I am obsessive compulsive with it.

Right now I’m working on a collection for an exhibition in March called Still : Life. I’ve taken my idea from Morandi’s paintings, turned them into 3-D pieces but with a 2-D feel. So they look flat but can be placed together to make a still life. My brain is full of new ideas and directions with this concept and I do tend to go down rabbit holes.

New ‘still life’ pieces for exhibition in 2024 (www.studiocennen.com)

Many thanks to Karen for sharing her thoughts.