Sue Crossfield

My work reflects a fascination with natural and marine forms, and female figures and heads.  I combine flowing lines and sweeping curves in the slab construction of my barium glazed ceramics.

Shells and pebbles and natural forms such as seed heads have inspired sculptural pieces to grow plants in or over, or for use as water features. My seahorses, sea serpents and fish in rich tones of blue evoke an underwater world.  Delicate sea urchin forms complement these shapes in pale shades of white, mauve and turquoise.

The elegant female figures and heads were originally inspired by the geishas in Japanese prints, and the heads and figures of Modigliani, Picasso and Gustav Klimt.  These have evolved into more contemporary figures and heads with a hint of attitude. 
Occasionally I develop an idea from studies of historical costumes, to explore shape, texture and decorative detail. 

 I work from thin slabs of white or buff stoneware clay bodies, which are sometimes impressed with texture from manmade or natural objects, before cutting, forming and assembling into the finished piece.  Decoration is also added at the completed stage either as applied textured detail or as surface pattern with slips, oxides, resists and glazes.  Sometimes  beaded jewellery, hatpins and hair adornments are added after the glaze firing.

The scale of my work varies from robust garden sculptures and planters in warm rustic colours and natural surfaces, to finer, smaller pieces for interior setting, often in a range of whites, purples, blues and turquoises. 

My work is fired in an electric kiln to between 1220ºC and 1280ºC.  My methods of cutting and assembling clay are similar to dressmaking and the use of wax resist and surface pattern are related to textile design.