Sarah Schiewe

I took up a BA 3D in Contemporary Crafts, specialising in sculpture and ceramics later in life. My work looked at illustrative storytelling through 3D objects. After my degree, I worked for 8 years, designing award winning products for children.  A low self-esteem and a lack of confidence had made me too fearful to pursue being an artist until now. In life coaching sessions, I learnt my anxiety manifested as an inability to speak up in groups or situations, and I used perfectionism as a measure of self-worth. With my new insight, I reflected upon the pieces I had created at university, and the penny dropped. With my work I had created a medium to be able to show my voice, thoughts and feelings, that I so desperately wanted.  Sad Panda became a very important piece. This was the first time I had subconsciously poured my emotions into the clay.  Distraught with sadness and anger from the loss of a child through miscarriage, I build the bear.  This life experience and the process of using direct emotions in clay, now underpins how I approach ceramics.  Everyone has their own life, thoughts and feelings, and I give people the opportunity to tell their stories through my work.

I craft my sculptures by building up forms with coils of stoneware clay. My hands are guided by intuition, they smooth and re-texturize the surfaces using everyday items and natural objects. Layers of coloured slip are built up and scraped away through the technique of sgraffito. After firing, the underglazes and glazes added make the magic happen. Adding decals brings an extra dimension to each piece. In this hands-on process, my work becomes a journey, an exploration of form, texture, and colour, inviting viewers to connect with crafted narratives that unfold within each piece.