Heather Dahl

"I have chosen to work with clay out of a keen interest in function, tactile material, colour and design. My functional pottery is intentionally un-pretentious and invites use on a daily basis.

My interest in the glazing process strongly informs my ceramic practice. A simple, modern form allows the work to highlight the designs and glazes. I throw all my forms on the wheel and then alter them afterwards. Deeper bowls, low and wide bowls, and extended teapot bodies allow for more surface area for the glaze designs to be showcased on, while still being functional.

My designs are often based on my drawings or paintings in which shapes re-emerge on clay. For example, circular shapes from within my abstract paintings now take shape as poppies with striped stems. The poppies and the yellow ginko leaves are paired with birds such as cardinals, hummingbirds, and with a hand-sculpted sparrow. The tone of the work is cheerful and fresh. "