For as long as I can remember, I have collected all sorts of interesting bits from around the world-feathers, shells, stones, rusty metal, old tools and much more. Ten years ago, I fell in love with clay. For many of my sculptures, a starting point is an object from my vast collection. I love to find a way to incorporate these found ‘bits’ with clay. I aim to use an existing piece and give it a new identity, using as little extra material as possible. Inspiration also comes from the ancient Japanese Kintsugi golden mending technique and the philosophy of Wabi-Sabi, creating beauty out of imperfection. There is no theme in my Clay&Bits sculptures. Each object dictates what its new life is going to be. Sometimes it is humorous, like the titles show, sometimes not, but I always enjoy bringing together an object with my imagination to create an entirely new piece. An ‘s’ at the end of the title indicates that the sculpture has been sold.
Sutton Tin Woman (tin and ceramic ) soldA Distant Dream (Raku, guineafowl feathers)soldExhausted Man (piston and exhaust pipe)Recycle Pot (bicycle cassette, Raku) soldTwitter (ceramic, stones)soldBetween Earth and Sky (ceramic, shell centre)Stone Jar (ceramic Raku, stone)soldTwo Dancers (ceramic, shells)soldtitanium-bird (titanium-off-cuts)soldBlue Bird (ceramic Raku, stone) soldBolster Woman ( ceramic , bolster)soldJars ( ceramic, Raku, shells, cassette, seed)soldKintsugi (Raku, goldleaf)soldTogether we Stand, (ceramic wooden base)It’s my World ( sanding disk, malacite, metal pieces)Birds (ceramic Raku, wire) soldToucan (sickle, gardenfork)Plane Jane (plane, ceramic)soldSun Goddess (ceramic, metal ring, copper)soldBranching Out (smoke fired and sticks) soldShuttle Ride (weaving shuttle, ceramic)soldIroning out Problems (pocellan, old iron)soldCycle Pot ( ceramic Raku, bicycle cassette)soldYes I can ( sugar tong, shim, knob, part of tin)soldSpot the Dog ( metal from shipyard, metal tape)Farmer and Farmers Wife ( hoes, wood) soldLove Birds (door hinges, driftwood)soldCouple (driftwood from the Gambia)No Ironing Today ( old iron, ceramic Raku) soldMarble Pot ( ceramic, marble)soldPaddy (ceramic, brake pad)soldRustic Landscape ( corrugated iron, coral from Gambian beach)Watching the Sea ( ceramic Raku, Cornwall stone) soldMama Coffee ( ceramic, wood off cut)Coral Bird ( Raku, coral from Ecuador beach)soldMudguardian ( ceramic, mudguard)soldHammerhead Bird (ceramic, hammer)soldMigrant Boat (antiquuie weaving shuttle, Raku)Charles and Camilla ( rusty metal)_Fishbird ( fishbone, ceramic Raku)Andromeda and the Seamonster (titanium off cuts, root, stones)Ocean Wafe ( bone, coral, plaster)Jack (bootjack, edge cutter)soldTownship Girl (metal, clay)soldO sole mio (ceramic, garden fork)soldElbe ( metal, cerami, copper)soldAt Treyanan bay ( stone, ceramic Raku)soldCan Can Girls (ceramic, drink cans)Iron Woman (peat knife, door knob)Spring (ceramic raku, turned wood) soldTaking Off (ceramic, copper off cuts)Stepping Stones( bronze resin, stones)Form and Emptyness (found metal, wire)Coral Island (ceramic, coral)Father and Son (Titanium off-cuts, marble)soldAfrican Napoleon (part of oildrum lid, ceramic)soldBalancing (bronze resin, bouls balls)soldHello Bird (ceramic, door handle)soldA Rising Star ( greaze can, washers etc)soldScare Scraper (scraper, copper wire)Watch your Step (shoe spanner, dolls eyes)sSunbathing (ceramic, stone) soldSandersfoot Bird (rustymetal in stone, hook)soldBatancing the scales ( metal, wooded fishes)Cycle Hut ()bicycle cassette, Raku)soldWelcome (ceramic , feathers)Aiming High ( ceramic, metal) soldTurtle Breastbone ( turtle breastbone, Raku base)No Ironing Today. 2 ( Iron ceramic, Raku) soldDay Dreaming ( ceramic, stone)soldEvolution (flint stones, ceramic)sNumber One ( metal, ceramic)sold
Thanks very much for the information. I have got the Sutton Trail in the
diary! I hope that we’ll be able to meet up soon, either here or at your
house. When it’s a bit sunnier we could have another walk.
We’re well, though Peter and family and Tom and family have all had
covid recently so we haven’t seen anything of them for the last two
weeks. I think that the children brought it home, although they didn’t
suffer much, just the parents!
Hui is working hard but will have a sabbatical starting in Jan so that
will give her a bit more flexibility. We might get the chance to go to
China, perhaps.
Mike and I are still having lessons with Luc and they are very helpful.
Our progress is slow, but as long as it’s progress, that’s ok.
I hope that your eye is improving and that John’s knees are now as
bouncy as they were in the past!
Petra Röhr-Rouendaal 
Hi Petra
Thanks very much for the information. I have got the Sutton Trail in the
diary! I hope that we’ll be able to meet up soon, either here or at your
house. When it’s a bit sunnier we could have another walk.
We’re well, though Peter and family and Tom and family have all had
covid recently so we haven’t seen anything of them for the last two
weeks. I think that the children brought it home, although they didn’t
suffer much, just the parents!
Hui is working hard but will have a sabbatical starting in Jan so that
will give her a bit more flexibility. We might get the chance to go to
China, perhaps.
Mike and I are still having lessons with Luc and they are very helpful.
Our progress is slow, but as long as it’s progress, that’s ok.
I hope that your eye is improving and that John’s knees are now as
bouncy as they were in the past!
Hope to meet up soon.
Much love
Paul xxx
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