2020 AWARD WINNER | Loughborough

Alice Garbett | Fine Art Part C

Loughborough

Instagram

Tell us about yourself, your work, and your career path so far.

My Name is Alice, but most people call me Garbs. It’s a nickname that’s stuck!
My main practice involves metaphorical sculpture. To produce these pieces, I utilise clay, though recently I have explored sculpting with paper and fabric.
Alongside producing contemporary fine art sculpture within my degree, I run an Etsy shop selling some of my pieces, as well as my hand-built pottery.

Describe your first encounter with clay?

I started working with clay in college. I had a great tutor who enabled me to explore a range of ceramic and glass techniques and showed me how to mix glazes. Her patience and enthusiasm allowed me to experiment but also learn the proper techniques, giving me a platform to grow from through university.

Why did you choose ceramics?

I enjoy the science of it, and the messy side of things! The greater hands on approach compared to other artistic practices fits how I like to work. I also like the challenge and reward of ceramics, you never truly know what you’ll be faced with when you open the kiln, as it takes so much practice and passion to get the results you want!

Where do you find inspiration? Places, people, objects, music...

My work is mostly self-biographical. Whatever is happening around me or however I feel, it all gets put into the work, and is the driving force behind it. Once these immediate situations have past, the work then becomes cathartic and a way to work through experiences and emotions.

What are the tools of your trade that you can't do without?

The reverse of a PVC tablecloth is a must for hand rolling or slab building! A fettling knife is infinitely useful, paint brushes are crutial for applying slip or glazes, and you definitely need a few old tea towels to clean yourself up.

What is a typical day in the studio like?

I usually experiment with clay until an idea starts forming. The “thinking through making” approach. It’s a motto within Loughborough’s fine art department and fits my practice very well! After that I do some rough drawings and measurements in my sketchbook to solidify where I’m aiming to get to, whilst forming a plan in my head on how to proceed. Then I get going. My studio is somewhere to experiment, and I’m quite a messy person, so the ‘ideas’ come out through getting stuck in and finding my feet as I go. This process is accompanied by lots of cups of tea and two inquisitive guinea pigs keeping an eye on things as I work!

What do the next 12 months have in store for you?

I want to continue to evolve as an artist and push my own boundaries. I have certain artistic and ceramic techniques I want to try out, including different ways of firing clay and experimenting with clay bodies and glazes.
 I will be staying involved with the wider artistic community through Instagram and local groups. I’m currently applying to other artistic competitions and online shows. I will also be continuing to sell pieces through my Etsy shop.

What advice do you have for those currently studying ceramics in further education?

Ask all the questions and push to be able to try new things. Learn everything you can while you have all the facilities at your fingertips! Learn the proper techniques of the crafts you love, so you become as knowledgeable as possible to get you where you want to be.
Having said that, as a student, you won’t know all the “rules” within ceramics. This IS a positive, as it allows you to think outside the box and think of ideas that your tutors may not have tried before, because they are so used to doing things the “proper” way. Believe in your ideas, and with the guidance and techniques of tutorage, find ways to make them come to fruition.