About the work
I mainly hand build my work although I can use a pottery wheel, the work I tend to produce is often more sculptural and as such not suitable to be produced on a wheel. I prefer to use stoneware clay although I have worked with terracotta and earthenware. Once the piece has been made and has dried completely (known as bone dry) it can be green fired. Then the piece is painted with glaze, left to dry and bisque fired. You can potentially glaze the piece before the green fire but this is not always possible with all clay or glaze and depends on what final result is required.
About me
I am Melissa Relfe, I am predominately a ceramic artist but I have been known to use a range of mediums. After a period in my teens as a proud member of ” The pottery club” at secondary school, I largely forgot about clay for some time whilst struggling to realise where I wanted to take my creative talents, focusing predominately on mediums such as paint and charcoal. After a chance encounter, I found myself with a job at a ceramics cafe, largely dealing in bisque ceramic. After 6 years as deputy manager and one of the main gazers in the shop, I was inspired to begin creating my own ceramics from scratch.
So I bought a kiln, set up a work room in my box room and I have continued to go from strength to strength ever since. I continue to experiment with glazes and different types of clay and I have branched out in to working with wood, I am also studying to be an art therapist.
Thank you for your interest, please get in touch on my contact page if you have any comments or questions.
Melissa.
Relfe Studios 