Dennis Farrell

  • Dennis Farrell Light Line  Landscape (61x19x39 ht cm).jpg Light, Line, Landscape, 2013. Black earthenware clay, coloured engobes and transparent glaze.
  • Tideline 3.jpg Tideline, 2014. Black earthenware clay, coloured engobes and transparent glaze.
  • Storm Light high res.jpg Storm Light, 2015. Black earthenware clay, coloured engobes and transparent glaze.
  • Sweeping Landscape 60x27x39ht cm.jpg Sweeping Landscape, 2015. Black earthenware clay, coloured engobes and transparent glaze.

What inspires me

The passage of time and change observed in urban and rural landscapes has been central to the themes I explore in my work. The process of archaeology and its concern with time and layers has also greatly influenced the way in which I express my ideas. Architectural fragments, marks on the landscape, multi-layered and over painted surfaces, have all influenced the way I work in clay.

My current work responds to light, line, colour and texture observed in rural and coastal landscapes.

Making in the Midlands

Place is the heart of what I am about; I gather information and ideas through travelling, however, living aside Wenlock Edge has been enormously influential in forming my approach to recent work.

What has changed most about the crafts in the last thirty years

With the availability of degree, HND, BTEC courses across the country there is no doubt that craft has flourished and diversified over the last thirty years. The network of galleries and exhibiting/selling opportunities and craft media has also grown in this time promoting creative individuality and making it accessible.

However, if the last thirty years were expansive I fear we are at a time when this infrastructure will be severely tested with the imminent collapse of craft education, particularly ceramics, and the high cost of courses generally. It's never been easy to make a living from craft and I fear it's getting harder as funding is withdrawn. If you come from a well-to-do background no-doubt you'll be able to indulge in craft, it's the middle and working classes that will not be able to afford to participate.


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