Elaine Sheppard Bolt
British Ceramicist
“MY WORK IS INFORMED BY COLOURS AND TONES FOUND IN THE LANDSCAPE OF THE SOUTH DOWNS, FEATURING DEEP FLINT BLACKS, THROUGH SOFT GREY STONY GLAZES TO CHALK WHITE TONES.”
Drawing on unnoticed and delicate organic details, Elaine Sheppard Bolt’s porcelain pieces are meditations on nature’s subtle worlds. The curl of lichen, the texture of a fern, the gentle erosion of sea-worn wood; Sheppard Bolt’s quiet attentiveness whilst out walking takes form in her work. Porcelain offers the balance between delicacy and strength that is needed to express these intricate details.
Increasingly, Sheppard Bolt has moved beyond functional pieces into more sculptural work. A porcelain twig may be balanced on the rim of a thrown vessel, introducing a new tension to both shapes. Or she moves away entirely from vessels, creating wall pieces that are still life compositions. With titles such as “Arboretum” and “Herbarium”, Sheppard Bolt hints at a narrative. Through the arrangement of porcelain plants, they tell the story of a walk in the woods, along a beach, a holiday, a garden. Gathered natural objects become preserved through clay. Although inspired by personal journeys, Sheppard Bolt encourages viewers to read their own narratives in the compositions.
The pieces tread the boundary between the made and the found. Sometimes, Sheppard Bolt incorporates found objects, such as a carefully selected twig or lichen. Positioning this organic matter alongside her sculpted porcelain, viewers can inspect nature’s artistry with more focus. What has been collected, and what crafted? The compositions remind us of the universal urge to collect and display the small beauties of nature, made precious through our attention.
