Ceramic Art London 2018

Before and after Ceramic Art London, 23-25 March. I had been hectic. At one point, I thought I might become mad! But I had kept my sanity, just. The result was the best ever. Although it is important to consider all other effects like media, promotion etc. from the prestigious shows like CAL, it is the upmost important to me and, I'm sure, most of others, to have good sales. Some visitors don't realise that how much time and effort as well as costs were put into to do a big show. In my case, literally months' effort.

So we are very pleased that all went very well. Thank you so much.   

Here are those sold at the show.

Departing - sold

Rabbit with Enso - sold

Departing and Rabbit with Enso went to a lovely gentleman. 

Girl with red shoes - sold

Red shoes are always popular. She went to a  lovely couple.

Holly - sold

Holly went to a nice gentleman. I was told she is a secret gift for his wife.

Mad Tea Party - sold

Mad Tea Party went to a ceramic school run by a lovely lady. Afterward I head and saw the photos of the works made by children who were inspired by the mask. How nice!   

Red shoes - sold

She went to a lovely couple.

Rabbit - sold

He has gone to a nice lady who visited with her lovely friends.

Owl - sold

He went to a nice couple. I had known one of them for a few years on Twitter. How lovely!  

Frenchie - sold

Pug - Sold

Frenchie and Pug went together to a lovely lady who lives with Frenchie and pug! 

Magic mushrooms - sold

Magic mushrooms went to a nice lady.

Lotus - sold

Lotus went to a lovely lady. She saw lotus in flower in Japan. How wonderful! 

Lots of small animals have also gone. White rabbits sold out. Anteaters also sold out. It was a great show!

Here is the stand after PV. Already some pieces had gone! We were too late to take photos of them.

Preparation for Ceramic Art London

The first mask I have made was Cherry tree. In 2016 I made Apple tree, and I wanted to make another tree mask. It has to be a cherry tree. There are both cherry and apple trees in the garden. We seldom have a chance to taste cherries, however, as Wood pigeons eat them all before they become red. But we admire the beautiful blossoms.

This is more detailed mask than Apple tree and also larger.

Cherry tree

Red ridinghood

I have made quite a few Red ridinghood masks in the past. This is a new style. Firing could be a problem, but we will see.  

Girl with a red ribbon

Enchanted Forest

The largest tree mask so far. But I might make even larger one than this.  

I have made four birds. Here are the first two. 

Ceramic Art London 2017

Ceramic Art London, one of the greatest ceramic art shows in the UK, and possibly in Europe, is over for another year. We had a great time and also a great result. This was my third time, but each is different and unpredictable.

Here is my report and photos of  some of the sculptures, which went to loving homes.

Apple tree - sold

I had a slightly larger stand this time; so my works were more spread out. Just before PV, I was told that one of my photos was in the Evening Standard. How lovely! PV kick-started with Grayson Perry looking at my stand for a long time. In fact, we were getting dressed at the back, so neither Mike or I was there. I came back just after he has left my stand. I would have loved chatting with him. Who wouldn't ?

Alice - sold

Friday was packed and we were very busy, and we also had the highest sales. I was unable to have a chat with old customers much. Sorry!

Owl - sold

Saturday was also packed, but somehow customers' main interests have shifted to smaller animals and by noon the shelves for animals looked bare. The trend might have been started by Keith Brymer Jones from the Great pottery throw down, BBC. He and his partner Marg were our first customers on that day. They were very nice people. I am aware that he is adored by lots of fans; I can see why he has been so popular after meeting him.

Polar bear - sold 

In our limited experience, Sundays are usually crowded, but lots of people browse more than shopping, but this Sunday was different. Remaining animals have gone and quite a few big sculptures have gone. It was a very good Sunday.

Stand is ready on Thursday night. 

 It was so lovely to meet customers I had only known on Internet. Also it was moving to meet one of earlier customers.

My first Saturday customers.
Photo: Fenella Elms

I have recognised quite a few customers who came back. It is lovely to see them again. I will never talk this much until next show.  Mike, post office counter lady and postmen are only people I talk between shows, as I am extrovert recluse.    

Enso - sold 

 A few people said they would go to Art in Clay at Hatfield, in August. I will be there for the first time. I knew it is a great show, but I just couldn't trust the British weather as it is held outside. But I have decided to give it a try.

Tulip - sold 

I have also received a few commissions. With a couple of commissions taken already before the show, I will be concentrating on them for a a few months.

Girl with blue shoes - sold 

Already one week has past since we came home. I have finally unpacked boxes. There are lots of follow ups and admin works after the show. 

Flowering quince - sold 

 Thank you so much for those who have purchased, come and supported from afar. I thank also the organiser, other exhibitors, helpers and security who made the great show.

My neighbours at CAL

I had another bout of fever, and finally got rid of it. So here is the last report about CAL 2016.

First, ladies and gentlemen, let me announce the winner of 2016 Fenella and Midori's who is funnier award! Fenella won by a big margin! She makes breath-takingly beautiful work. Her stand was at the entrance, we and all visitors, enjoy seeing her work through lighting. She is one of the funniest artists in the show, I imagine.  Her head is so full of ideas and fun!

Fenella Elms at her stand. 

Some artists look serious, and some are really serious, but lots of people are fun when we have a chat. I, usually change character as a show goes on. As my voice becomes hoarse, I become urban street urchin like. I should have been an actress!

Fenella, her daughter and her friends. 

There were 88 international artists in the show. As we spend 3 and a half days together we tend to chat with neighbours. My next neighbour was Isobel Egan from Ireland. Her installation was so beautiful. Oculus, in the photo was my favourite, and it has gone to a lovely home in London.

Margaret Curtis is a veteran of ceramic shows. She is so warm and kind. Her stand looked fabulous. Her large jars are so beautiful. She told us lots of funny stories, which we still remember and giggle.

Margaret Curtis

Sue Paraskeva had not only done demonstration, but also performance at CAL. She dropped a wood plank on her freshly thrown pots.

Sue Paraskeva

Tanya Gomez was colourful by her work and by her dresses. Arguably the brightest spot at CAL.

Tanya Gomez

Sue Pryke's work are urban modern simplicity. She was with her lovely daughter .

Barbara Hast comes from Germany. We didn't have a chance to get to know each other much as we are a bit far apart, but we greeted in the storage.  

Here are pics before CAL starts. The right bottom corner is beautiful Ipek Kotan's stand. She is from Turkey. She and I are having a chat at my stand. 

The year of masks, well mainly! - CAL

Here are the photos of large pieces sold at CAL.

Blossom in the wind now lives in Belgium with a nice lady.

Blossom in the wind

Night in the woods went to a nice gallerist.

Night in the Woods

A lovely lady changed her mind at the last minute and took Ancient Woods to her home.

Ancient woods

 Lovely couple returned to CAL and took Grand Priestess and a bear with them.

Grand Priestess

Grand priestess -  backside

Answer was in the box flew to Germany with lovely ladies. 

Answer was in the box 

Mirror mirror now lives with a lovely lady in London.

Mirror mirror

Himiko, the first monarch in Japan documented in Chinese official history, has gone to a lovely talented ceramic artist as her own birthday present.

Himiko

 The girl with red shoes, my recurring theme, has gone to a lovely lady.

The girl with red shoes

 The bear with a shoot has gone to a lovely polar bear loving lady. Now he has a woolly cap.

Polar bear with a shoot

The bear, who was supposed to be a maquette but decided to live his own big life, went to the lovely couple.  

Polar bear

The rabbit mask has gone to a lovely lady.

Rabbit

Three angels have gone to new homes, but the third one didn't have a chance for photos. I can assure you all went to loving homes, as angels do.  

Three angels (one invisible)

 Red riding hood has now lives under the Mexican frame with two faces in a lovely lady's home.

Red riding hood

 This one is the first one and she was framed. She has also gone to a happy home.

Red riding hood -framed

And the first piece to go at Cal was Marisa. She had seldom appeared ino public as she was a bit dark and dangerous. She now lives with a nice lady in the South East. Her model is Mrs Coulter. 

Marisa

Marisa- back side

Bronze glazed birds, anteaters, Mother tapir, baby tapirs, tapir spoons, long tailed tits and a chameleon sold out as I had a small number of them. I will make more of these for autumn. I have other small ones, usual suspects, in my shop.