Paola Franca Rossi
Terra Terra Ceramics by Franca Rossi
Cesena, Italy
Website
terraterra_ceramics
Artist Statement
Earth is the raw material I use for my works. The secret message of this wonderful material conveys its power and life force to me. I try to express it with passion, patience and constancy in my laboratory, inspired by universal beauty. Clay is not just any material, it is something alive.
Studio Description
I created my studio from the annex of my house. It is my refuge, my corner where the hours pass peacefully.
What type of clay do you use?
I use different types of stoneware from various origins: Spain, France, Germany, Ireland, etc. I also use porcelain.
What temperature do you fire to?
From 1240 ° C to 1280 ° C
What is your primary forming method?
My training began by attending the workshops of various artists, then I attended national (Italy) and international schools
What is your favorite surface treatment?
I use self-produced glazes and organic material.
Do you make any of your own tools?
I make a few.
What one word would you use to describe your work?
Passion
What is your favorite thing about your studio?
my chaos: "an indefinable and indescribable form that encloses sky, sea, and earth."
What is the one thing in your studio you can’t live without?
GOD
What are your top three studio wishes?
1) Feed my curiosity for the constant research of materials and glazes. 2) Buy many books from other artists I respect 3) I would like more light in my studio.
What’s on your current reading list?
The Living Goddesses by Marija Gimbutas; Special Effect Glazes by Linda Bloomfield; Low-Fire Soda by Justin Rothshank
How do you save money on materials and supplies?
I do not know!
How do you recharge creatively?
Everyday life
Do you have any DIY tips for studio efficiency?
Have a practical way to visually order the materials you use.
What challenges have you given yourself to overcome?
I have no challenges, but mine is a constant path to learn new knowledge.
What did your first piece look like?
It is a sculpture depicting Agamemnon, King of Mycenae, made of earthenware, fired at 900 ° C finished with bronze patina.
What ceramic superpower would you have and why?
I don't feel like I have super power. I can predict how a piece will come out of firing for the applied technique, but I am convinced that the final determining element is the fire, which sometimes exceeds my expectations.
What area of skill do you most look to other artists to learn?
I look at the totality of their way of working.
Who is your ceramic art mentor and why?
I don't have a particular mentor, I appreciate many past and contemporary artists, but my works are influenced by history, by the past, by nature, by everyday life.
What is your studio playlist?
I listen to Italian and international 60s–70s music, and classical music such as Mozart and Beethoven
Why do you create art?
I create art because it gives me peace. There are themes for each work and what inspires me most is the religious one that recalls my Christian origins.
Who is your favorite artist and what do you admire about that artist?
I don't have a particular favorite artist. I appreciate many past and contemporary artists.
What is your best studio tip?
To listen
If you could change one property of clay, what would it be?
I wouldn't change anything about the clay!
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