Gail Hazlehurst
Greenglade Pottery Studio
Sidney, British Columbia
Canada
Website
www.hazlehurstsculpture.com
Artist Statement
My abstract, clay slab, handbuilt, vessel sculptures reflect the ocean and its life forms. Sandy white beaches and coral reefs are all reflected in my work.
Studio Description
Greenglade Pottery studio is a shared art space where many potters and hand builders create.
What type of clay do you use?
Stoneware clay.
What temperature do you fire to?
cone 5.
What is your primary forming method?
Clay and coil clay handbuilding
What is your favorite surface treatment?
Texturing with my fingers, ribs, and clay stamps.
Do you make any of your own tools?
Yes, I make my own clay stamps.
What one word would you use to describe your work?
Colorful
What is your favorite thing about your studio?
Sharing creative inspiration with the other potters and handbuilders
What is the one thing in your studio you can’t live without?
Large kiln
What are your top three studio wishes?
pug mill, larger working space, and more storage space.
What’s on your current reading list?
Mastering Hand Building by Sunshine Cobb
How do you save money on materials and supplies?
Recycle my clay, shop sales
How do you recharge creatively?
Through quiet times of deep contemplation in nature and through viewing others art.
Do you have any DIY tips for studio efficiency?
Clean up as you go, so you are not left in the end with an enormous mess.
What challenges have you given yourself to overcome?
Continue to experiment with different abstract forms, textures, and colors outside of my comfort zone.
What did your first piece look like?
Boring and purely functional without any sculptural elements.
What ceramic superpower would you have and why?
Can't think of any that I need.
Who is your ceramic art mentor and why?
Mary Rogers, as I find the sculptural elements of her nature-inspired pottery magnificent.
What is on your studio playlist?
Annie Lennox
Why do you create art?
I have to create art. It has been an irresistible urge in me since I was a young child. It brings harmony, peace, and balance to my life.
What is your best studio tip?
Drying complex clay sculptures very slowly
If you could change one property of clay, what would it be?
To dry more slowly
