Chloe Harford
I make ceramic animal sculpture, not quite real, not quite cartoon; they do have character, I like to think an "I like you, please let me come live with you" appealing kind of face.
I have been making raku fired ceramics since leaving Plymouth College of Art (now Arts University Plymouth) in 1997 where I met my partner, the very well known & respected raku potter Chris Hawkins.
We share a workshop in the heart of the Tamar Valley on the borders of Devon & Cornwall, set on the banks of the river Tamar, we both love the nature haven around us with everything from dragonflies to beavers & otters using the 6 acres of land surrounding the pottery.
I sell my work predominantly through a wide selection of galleries, at ceramics & craft shows and direct from my website.
The galleries I supply regularly are listed below along with a list of upcoming shows.
GALLERIES
Cove Gallery – Weymouth
Park Gallery – Cheltenham
The Gallery Norfolk – Cromer
The Cotswold Shop – Bourton-on-the-Water
Gower Gallery – Mumbles
Blue Lias Gallery – Lyme Regis
Little Blue Budgie – Totnes
Mull Pottery – Tobermory, Isle of Mull
Old School Muker – Muker, Yorkshire Dales
Artroom Gallery – Garstang, Preston
Hamptons – Penarth
Jane James Gallery – St. Helier, Jersey
Primrose Gallery – Thrapston
SHOWS 2023
25 - 28 August - Contemporary Craft Show, RHS Hyde Hall, Essex - www.craftinfocus.com
7 - 10 Sept - Contemporary Craft Show, Hever Castle, Kent - www.craftinfocus.com
8 - 12 Nov - Contemporary Craft Show, RHS Wisley, Surrey - www.craftinfocus.com
Large Seal on Flippers (originally named as Adult Seal)
WHITE - Ceramic raku fired with white crackle glaze & natural smoked clay areas on flippers and nose.
GREY - Ceramic raku fired with mottled white crackle glaze & natural smoked clay areas all over, very randomly applied so finish and amount of grey and white areas will vary from piece to piece.
Sizes: 20cm L
These pictures are general pictures of each item, the crazing will differ with each animal due to the unique nature of Raku.
Raku is a rapid firing technique, adapted from an ancient Japanese firing. A small group of approx 15 pieces are placed in a small gas fired kiln and fired up to around 1,000° c, each piece is then individually taken out of the kiln red hot and placed in a bin of sawdust & wood shavings which instantly combust, the actual finish is then down to careful timing, longer in the air will give bigger heavier crazing, covering quickly leaves areas with no crazing but the crazing itself is very random and this gives each piece its own character, all work is then completely covered in the sawdust and left overnight to cool before being cleaned.
RAKU IS NOT FROST PROOF SO NOT SUITABLE FOR KEEPING OUTDOORS