A Story in the Making
Josie Ballin
I'm actually moving to Cornwall. The captivating work of Katharine Morling feels like the perfect fit for my first From The Blue blog post. It bridges my life in London (working with Katharine and many other artists at Cockpit Arts) and my future in Falmouth - where Katharine studied ceramics before going on to complete an MA at the RCA.
For this post I was drawn to Katharine's 'Nature Box' pictured above, with sea creatures and other natural specimens sculpted in her signature three-dimensional ceramic sketch. You can't help but revisit these objects - which are at once familiar and darkly curious. Like many of Katharine's pieces, the collection hints at a story and stirs your imagination.
The scale of Katharine's work extends to large, life size installations. I personally own a little box of 'Sewing Bits'. A pencil stub and butterfly sit amongst cotton spools, bobbins and needles. This tiny treasure never fails to fascinate.
The way that Katharine creates her work is very instinctive. She often doesn't know what she will make until the clay starts to take shape in her hand. The spiralling stories she forms are often personal and always full of intrigue and life.
With the move ahead and my own story starting to take a new shape, Katharine's work reminds me to reappraise the everyday and opens my eyes to the many possibilities ahead.
Image: Nature Box by Katharine Morling. Photograph courtesy of the artist.
Words: Josie Ballin