Handthrown and Fused Glass Stoneware Vessels
By Steve Woodcock
Original artworks - each one unique
Stoneware with various glazes, volcanic glaze and fused blue recycled glass
Various sizes - from large bowls and dishes to small saucers and pots
Prices range from £40 - £150, based on size and sophistication of form and glaze
With his latest, very popular range of vessels, Steve experiments with two distinct palettes:- turquoise blue, jade and celadon; and browns, hazels and fawns. He has also introduced a plain cream range of dishes, flasks and vessels for summer 2023.
Glazes are mixed with different surface textures and finishes, sometimes speckled or metallic. For extra intrigue, volcanic glazes offer lava-like bands or details.
Complementing the glaze colours, upcycled glass is fused into the base of bowls or vases to give a sleek ping of colour or a bullseye-style glass centrepiece.
Every vessel is handthrown and entirely individual.
The pieces are in a wide variety of sizes and prices, from £16 to over £100. Some work as solo statement ceramics and others can be grouped to display as twos or threes.
ABOUT STEVE WOODCOCK
Steve is captivated by ceramic creation. Whether it's thrown vessels or hand-built, sculptured pieces, he never tires of exploring the versatility and diversity of clay. Every piece takes on individual attributes and features. It's an iterative and an organic process - and marvellously addictive.
Working from his Oxfordshire studio, his sculptures and vessels are all one-offs, though he has developed ranges and 'families' with similar motifs, structural characteristics and other idiosyncrasies.
With their fused mechanical and organic limbs, his larger creatures also have surface textures that suggest musculature and physical detail, like skin and scales, melded together with robotic joints, spouts and hinges, all underpinned by a clay skeleton. Visual clues hint at each figure's character and back-story.
Smaller sculptures always hold a story too, sometimes humorous and sometimes melancholic – their tales evolve as Steve builds each one.
The pots and vessels are also quirky and - in their finishes, glazes and design details - hold individual appeal, enhancing their functional form.
His distinctive work has been exhibited at the International Ceramics Federation and displayed and sold in numerous regional galleries and shows. He has produced commissions of many kinds, including tableware sets and chess sets of ceramic figures and handmade boards.