Janet Graham

A Certificate in Ceramics

A Potter and a Painter

A member of Splinter Contemporary Artists for more than 5 years

 

From memory, what was the first thing you made with your hands?

When I was a young child, my Mum was always creating something. My favourite time was lining up when Mum had a wedding cake to ice. She would encourage me to make roses and learn how to use the piping bag. I don't remember painting but Mum has kept in her glory box one of my first paintings. Very abstract but definitely a forest with lots of tones of green. I think clay first grabbed my passion when I was in Room 4 at Primary School. I still have that first pot I made, as seen in the photo above. I think I always knew I would come back to clay.

 

 

What are you making with your hands right now?

At present I paint and do my pottery. I often wake in the middle of the night and have had a dream of an idea I would like to create. At present I’m working on pieces for our exhibition in November. I sketch thumb sketches and then get to the logistics of putting the piece together. The piece in the photo above will eventually be standing.

 

 

Why is the art of handmade so important?

I recently read a quote that said “Creating is good for the soul”. The art of handmade is so important as it lets the person express themselves in a way no one else can. It’s an extension of a person and hopefully it will give a little piece of happiness to someone else. When I’m creating I feel calm, happy and excited all at once. Handmade items let your imagination take flight.

 

All photographs courtesy of Janet Graham.
 Janet can be contacted via Splinter Contemporary Artists.

See more of Janet's work at Splinter Contemporary Artists on Facebook.
 

  

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