Christine Pike's Web Log
Christine Pike's Web Log

The Sculpture Lounge

Well, flushed with success after the AP summer show - at which I sold four pieces of sculpture - I hot-footed it to Yorkshire for a week-long course in figurative sculpture.

The Sculpture Lounge is just outside Holmfirth (where Last of the Summer Wine is filmed), a lovely corner of the Peak District, and I had been looking forward to taking a course there for ages.  Brendan Hesmondhalgh, our tutor, is a very talented sculptor and I have admired his work for ages so I was eager to learn all I could from him.  He has a very free and 'sketchy' way with clay, that I love, and I hope to be able to use a similar approach in my own work.

The course subject was farm animals, and I chose to make a goat.  I have written a long feature about my adventures with this beast for the Anglian Potters' magazine and I will put a link to it once it has gone to press.  For now, though, here is a picture of my completed goat, sculpture at the end of the four days - I am really pleased with him (I think it's a him!):


Posted by Christine Pike at 9/29/2009 7:36 PM | View Comments (1) | Add Comment

Anglian Potters' Summer Show in Cambridge

Last night I helped out at my first Anglian Potters' show - and I sold one of my sculptures at the private view!!  This was my first sale in a  gallery environment and I was so surprised and delighted!  It was really great to see my work displayed professionally and the AP organizers have done a wonderful job of setting out everybody's work to its best advantage.

The private view was incredibly busy and I didn't move from the wrapping station for over an hour.  Apparently they are always like this!  It is heartening to know that so many people are keen to support ceramics in Cambridge.  

The show runs until August 31st and entry is free, so, if you are in the area, why not pop along?  I promise you, the standard of work is very high and all kinds of ceramic work are represented, from wood-fired bowls and mugs, to raku, to slipware, to sculpture, both figurative and abstract.  You can find more details here: Anglian Potters


Here is the piece that sold yesterday:

                                                                

Posted by Christine Pike at 8/18/2009 8:33 AM | Add Comment

Paul Young, king of the slip trailers!

Two weeks ago (yes, I know, I should have written this up sooner!) I went to my first demonstration day as a member of Anglian Potters.

I was keen to attend this one as it was being given by Paul Young, who specializes in slip decorated ware and 17th century-inspired pew figures, like this one:

                                                                    

I first came across Paul's work at Cambridge Contemporary Art gallery, where I work occasionally, and was intrigued that a contemporary potter should be interested in reviving this old English folk art style.  In fact, his interest was first piqued when, as a student, he discovered the collection of slipware at the Potteries Museum in Stoke on Trent - "Even now, to see it makes me want to weep", he says.  

This visceral reaction to such homely and humble pieces of pottery inspired Paul to create his own work in this style and carry on a tradition that is fast dying out.

                                                           

It was fascinating to watch Paul at work, deftly building up a design using nothing except an acient slip trailer bound with gaffer tape, and a cocktail stick!

                And the finished piece before firing:     

Paul is well-known for his candlesticks in the shape of stylised trees and he made one for us at the demonstration:

  It took up most of the afternoon and was incredibly detailed, with birds perching in the top of leafy branches.  Paul has very steady hands and a lot of patience!!

All in all, it was a great day and very informative.  One useful piece of information I picked up from Paul is that he uses a 50:50 mix of white earthenware to grogged stoneware and fires to a maximum of 1120 degreesC.  I might try this myself, instead of 100% stoneware, so that I can experiment with all those lovely bright earthenware glazes.



Posted by Christine Pike at 5/6/2009 8:22 PM | View Comments (1) | Add Comment

Spring Celebration and First Firing!

First of all, let me say a big 'Thank You' to everyone who joined in my latest web update - Spring Celebration.  I am delighted to report that all but one of the bears have found new homes. and the little LBS-challenged chap (Last Bear Syndrome) will be going with me to Stratford in June.  It is odd how this so frequently happens - I think human beings are often reluctant to buy the last one of anything because they have a psychological fear that there must be something wrong with it - unless it's an Hermes handbag, that is, haha!  Fortunately, bears are slow to take offence and are content to wait patiently for 'their' person to come along...

My second piece of news is that I have FINALLY fired my kiln!!!  I can't believe that I took delivery of the beastie last October and that it has taken me this long to get enough pieces together to fire.  Anyway, I was relatively pleased with the outcome - predicatably, my best piece got ruined by a crappy glaze, but a few things came out ok and I shall not beat myself up too much for a first attempt!  I present the best bits for your viewing pleasure:

    
                'Blue Dog', stoneware  7"                                              'People Watcher II', stoneware 5 1/2"


These next two are in various stages of being finished; 'People Watcher I' is fired but has not been fully glazed yet, and 'Winglets' has not yet been biscuit fired.

   
     'People Watcher I' stoneware  6"                                               'Winglets', stoneware   14"

If she survives the flames (!), I will post more pictures of Winglets and explain the story behind her title.  At the moment I am in bird mode and am wrestling with a cockerel with saggy knees!!  I am also working on some cute little birdies which will have a bit of sparkly bling added post firing.  They will probably make their debut in my Etsy shop, so watch this space!


Posted by Christine Pike at 4/28/2009 8:12 PM | View Comments (2) | Add Comment

New Bears and an Announcement...

             
  New bears just delivered to Abracadabra Teddies!!  I have always wanted to create a group of bears in just black and white - so classy!  These little chaps will be arriving at Abracadabra in the morning - probably with snow on their toes, judging by the weather outside my studio window!  Anyway, there is more information about them on my website: www.christinepike.com with a link to Abracadabra.

AND.... I am very proud to announce my first collection for Charlie Bears!!!  Charlie Bears is a relatively new, British manufacturer of extremely high quality plush and mohair bears and is currently taking the world by storm.  At Spring Fair last week they were singled out for praise as being a great British success and a company to watch for the future - well done Charlotte and her team!!

I have designed five bears for the Spring 2009 catalogue and they are all featured on page 17.  The first deliveries should be hitting the shops next week, hurrah!  I shall be putting up some pictures on my website shortly but, in the meantime, grab yourself a catalogue and have a drool over all the gorgeous bears (and the odd rabbit, kitten, and puppy).


Posted by Christine Pike at 2/12/2009 9:31 PM | View Comments (2) | Add Comment

New Year - New Bear design!

I had been mulling over an idea for some time, and then a collector's birthday request gave me the perfect opportunity to try it out:

                                  

                                                                                       

Meet Harvey - my first Moon Bear with a fully sculpted muzzle and a double neck joint:  He stands just shy of twelve inches and is made from a gorgeous black alpaca - his ' crescent moon' insert is mohair.  My collector has very kindly said that I can go ahead and make some similar bears to sell, so watch this space - I hope to be taking some to Hugglets next month!!

Posted by Christine Pike at 1/23/2009 9:31 PM | Add Comment

Mini Mania has one more day to go!!

My annual Mini Mania web show has been running all week and almost all of the bears have found new homes.

            


                    

I have no idea why this gorgeous panda is still looking for his special someone, but maybe he will find the right person before the show ends on Sunday, November 23rd, at 8.00 pm UK time.  If not, I will just have to keep him for myself!  He will not be offered anywhere else this year, and I will not be putting any more bears up for sale this side of the Hugglets show next February.
So... this is your last chance to adopt a bear before Christmas!) 
Seriously, if you want to take a peek at the bears, go to: Mini Mania




Posted by Christine Pike at 11/22/2008 11:55 AM | View Comments (1) | Add Comment

Christmas is coming!!

Yes, I know it is still only October - but, when you work with shops, you have to start thinking about these things earlier than most mortals and I have already begun on my Christmas orders.

My first official Christmas bear is 'Ursa Major' - 20 inches of pure winter fun and delight.  He is off to Bath shortly, to grace the window display at House of Bears...

Posted by Christine Pike at 10/27/2008 10:20 PM | Add Comment

Abracadabra signing - report!!

Oh my goodness!!!!!  I have just about recovered from yesterday's signing - which was exhausting, exhilarating, frenetic... and very, very successful!

I was joined by Vicki Allum (Humble Crumble Bears) and Anjo Noija from Holland for this special event and I think our different styles made for a really great mix and provided collectors with a super choice of bears. 

I was able to take a few pictures before the show started, but, by the time the doors opened at midday, there was very little chance of doing anything except stand back!  I think we were all amazed at the number of lovely people who had queued patiently in the rain, eager to see what we had created for them.  Some people knew exactly what they wanted and headed straight for that special bear (or bears), while others preferred to take stock of the whole display before making a decision.  And, because the show went live on the internet on the dot of twelve, Marsha was kept incredibly busy tackling the e-mail orders that came flooding in.

We all agreed that more people came to the signing than last year - and it was so nice to have time to chat to people and talk about bears all afternoon.  I really feel that special events like these are SO important for connecting artists and collectors and sharing our passion for teddy bears.  There really is nothing quite like being able to see and touch the bears and talk to the artists who made them.  I would like to extend a huge thank you to Marsha and Malcolm for making the signing happen, and to all the collectors who came to the shop and who logged on to their computers - you made this a wonderful day for everyone!!

Anyway, enough talking - here are some pictures from the signing:

                  Amixture of some of my minis (left), some of Anjo's and some of Vicki's bears.  Nearly all of these bears found new homes!
 
                               
 Mine and Vicki's bears

  More of Vicki's bears, with two of my 'smalls'

  Marsha checking the e-mail orders as they came in!

  One minute after the doors opened!!
 

Posted by Christine Pike at 6/22/2008 7:01 PM | Add Comment

More minis - with only hours to go...

Before the Big Day!!

I waved off the last of the bears this morning, before they are put on display for tomorrow's signing at Abracadabra.

Here are a couple of them:
This is Morton - another 5 inch bear made from gorgeous Sassy long pile!

    
                                                                                                                    Love that profile!!!
     
                     Rory, 4 inches
                                                                                                                                                       
                                           

                                                                                  Victor, 7 inches

I have been asked by several people to make more little bears for this event, so there will be six minis, some smalls, and a couple of bigger bears.

See you there tomorrow!

Posted by Christine Pike at 6/20/2008 4:41 PM | View Comments (1) | Add Comment
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