Work in progress - dryad Adding the arm/branches and the birch 'eyes'. I'm pleased with the corset effect of the bark containing the body. Dryads are woodland nymphs/ spirits who inhabit and protect the trees.
Helen Nottage
@helennottage.bsky.social
Ceramic artist from the UK, inspired by anatomical art, mythology, folklore, fairy-tale, life-cycles, nature and the seasons. www.helennottageceramics.com linktr.ee/helennottageceramics
Making my little Goldfinch. I really like the idea of Philip Pullman's Daemons in His Dark Materials and also the presence of birds as carriers of the soul in mythology. I think my daemon would be a little goldfinch. I also really love Giraffes, but that would be a very different sculpture!
Work in progress - adding the second front panel. #figurativeart #figurativesculpture #ceramicart #ceramicprocess
Work in progress - building up the back in sections. #figurativesculpture #figurativeart #ceramicprocess #ceramicsculpture
Work in progress - I'm making another large seated figure and trying to chart my progress all the way through. This is my progress so far. #figurativesculpture #figurativeart #ceramicfigure #ceramicartist
A process video showing how I build up the surface of my figures inside the mould. #figurativesculpture #figurativeceramics #figurativeart
Short process video of making the internal structure of a life-size ceramic figure. #figurativesculpture #ceramicart #figurativeart #ceramics
I'm starting another life-size figure. I always feel a bit daunted at the beginning of such a big piece, knowing the amount of time it will take and having to lift it into the kiln. It's a bit like a big puzzle, I do like puzzles. I know it will all come together in the end.
Wes Anderson: The Archives @ The Design Museum, London ❤️❤️❤️
Dryad - Dryads are nymphs or spirits who inhabit and protect trees. I created this piece for the Affordable Art Fair Hampstead Heath. Today is the last day of the show. I am being represented by Iona House Gallery on Stand C2. #figurativesculpture #artfairs #mythologicalart #artcollecting
Echo- 'And then she is voice only For the bones are turned to stone. She hides in woods And no one sees her now along the mountains, But all may hear her, for her voice is living' Ovid, Metamorphoses The Affordable Art Fair continues until 10th May. I'm represented by Iona House Gallery,Stand C2.
The Watchful Tree One of the dryads I made for the Affordable Art Fair Hampstead. The watchful tree is a folk name for birch trees. I am being represented by Iona House Gallery, Oxfordshire on stand C2 The show runs from 6th-9th May 26 #figurativesculpture #ceramicsculpture #mythologyart #artfairs
All my pieces looking quite gothic before their firing. #ceramicsculpture #figurativeart #mythologyart #contemporaryceramics #makingprocess
Echo This piece is based on the Roman myth of Echo and Narcissus. #contemporaryceramics #figurativesculpture #romanmythologyart #echoandnarcissus #ceramicsculpture
Echo - a work in progress This piece is based on the Roman myth of Echo and Narcissus. I have been playing with various configurations to try and represent the projection, movement, and symmetry of sounds. #ceramicsculpture #echoandnarcissus #romanmythology #ovid #metamorphoses #figurativeart
The watchful tree - work in progress Based on the dryad from Greek mythology, tree nymphs who inhabit and protect trees. The watchful tree is the folk name for birch trees. #greekmythology #dryad #artcollecting #ceramicsculpture
The watchful tree - work in progress Based on the dryad from Greek mythology, tree nymphs who inhabit and protect trees. The watchful tree is the folk name for birch trees. #ceramicsculpture #artcollector #mythologicalart #folkloresculpture #dryad #thewatchfultree
Little Faun - work in progress. He is reminding me of Bottom from A Midsummer Night's dream at the moment, I think it's the head tilt/ears combination. Making some horns next for my little Faun. #faun #mythology #nickbottom #midsummernightsdream #shakespeare
Dryad - based on the woodland nymphs who inhabit the trees or tree spirits. I think I'm going to make a series of these. #dryad #woodlandnymph #mythology #figurativesculpture #ceramics
Dryad - work in progress. Adding tiny porcelain mushrooms. #dryad #mythology #figurativesculpture #mushroom #art
Dryad - work in progess. Building up the trunk of her body using the bark texture. I've changed the layout of the branches a few times. I'm hoping to capture a unity between the two forms, one emerging from the other. #dryad #mythology #treespirit #figurativesculpture
Pressing clay into tree bark to create texture. I am beginning to make my first Dryad (nymph or nature spirit who inhabits trees) this texture was taken from our willow tree. I'm hoping to make a series of these. #ceramics #mythology #dryad #figurativeart #figurativesculpture
I've finished modelling the forms, so the next stage is mould making. I've made two-piece press moulds, using several layers of mod roc, followed by a layer of plaster for strength. #plastermoulds #ceramics #mouldmaking
Modelling new busts to fit the smaller scale heads. #ceramicsculpture #figurativesculpture #figurativeart
A couple of heads made using my new fossil hoard from Lyme Regis.
My fossil hoard from a recent trip to Lyme Regis. I bought these in The Old Forge Fossil Shop (image of T-Rex skull in their shop window). I didn't manage to find any fossils on the beach but I'm really happy with the ones I bought, I can't wait to use these in my work. #lymeregis #fossils #ammonite
This is what you get, Stanley Donwood and Radiohead Exhibition at the Ashmolean Gallery, Oxford.
New work - I've just delivered these new pieces to Cupola Contempory Art, Sheffield. The christmas exhibition 'Home' starts today.