Jamberoo-based creative Deborah Ellsmore has been “playing with clay”, as she describes her passion for ceramics, for about 10 years.

Before she retired, Deborah was a textile and design teacher at Kiama High School with plans to do “textile-related things” when she finished working. This changed after a friend invited her to do a Garden Sculptures and Mosaics Course for fun at Wollongong’s WEA. There she used clay and was surprised at how addictive she found it.

“I went in to learn about mosaics and got hooked on clay pots,” Deborah says.

Deborah wanted to pursue her new passion but still loved textiles, so she decided to use both clay and textiles in her designs. She felt this gave her a creative space that was a little different to just focusing on one medium. Deborah builds all her designs by hand and prefers to create decorative pieces rather than focus on functionality.

“For a time, I became a little bit obsessed with using paper yarn,” she says. “I do basketry as well, so I would use the clay and add decorative basketry to it as a point of difference.”

Deborah says she is obsessed with spheres and spherical shapes and is exploring how to incorporate weaving into her work.

Deborah joined the Shellharbour City Arts Society four years ago and she encourages any creative person to sign up as it is a great way to get feedback and to exhibit work.

“I love talking to other creatives who do different things, like painting with watercolours, for example, and with like-minded people who have similar obsessions,” Deborah says.

“My advice for others starting out in ceramics is to have patience. It’s a long process – create, dry, fire, create again, fire again – and don’t be too precious with what happens.”

Follow Deborah Ellsmore on Instagram @necessity_is

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