Anna is currently developing new work exploring the possibilities of clay extrusion. This is an industrial manufacturing method utilised in the production of clay sewage pipes and bricks. For the craftsperson small wall-mounted extruders are used to extrude clay for coil-building and handles. Anna is exploring the potential of the process in making complex forms, creating variation post extrusion to produce unique works. The images above show some initial experiments with a small extruder with some promising results.
Anna is awaiting news of a bursary to continue with this development.
Please follow Anna's developments on Instagram: @annajthomson
Anna is awaiting news of a bursary to continue with this development.
Please follow Anna's developments on Instagram: @annajthomson
About Anna Thomson
Anna studied at Brighton University, graduating in 1997 with a first class degree in Wood, Metal, Ceramics and Plastics. For the first part of her career she worked with UK manufacturers designing a ceramic homeware collection, together with fellow graduate Andrew Tanner under their company name HUB, supplying retailers internationally including Harrods, Liberty and DKNY.
After a career break Anna set up a studio at her home in Ninfield and since 2013 she has been designing and making everything herself. The move away from manufacturers has given her the freedom to explore and develop new techniques, taking manufacturing processes into a craft environment, pushing the boundaries and challenging limitation. She enjoys sharing her passion and knowledge through creative workshops in her studio, at local schools and recently at the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill.
Anna Thomson's current collection of ceramics is imbued with a sense of discovery and inspired by themes of repetition, variation and erosion. Anna works with bone china and semi-porcelain clay bodies, exploring the nature of the materials and developing new making techniques. Her lighting designs employ the delicate translucent qualities of bone china. Her signature dot vases originated from an experimental approach to developing a way of creating a two-dimensional pattern from a three dimensional texture. A kind of memory of form. Coloured layers of liquid semi-porcelain clay are built up in and pared back, refined and polished. The work is high fired to vitrification point so that it is water-tight, the surface matte and unglazed like a well-worn pebble.
Please follow Anna's developments on Instagram: @annajthomson
After a career break Anna set up a studio at her home in Ninfield and since 2013 she has been designing and making everything herself. The move away from manufacturers has given her the freedom to explore and develop new techniques, taking manufacturing processes into a craft environment, pushing the boundaries and challenging limitation. She enjoys sharing her passion and knowledge through creative workshops in her studio, at local schools and recently at the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill.
Anna Thomson's current collection of ceramics is imbued with a sense of discovery and inspired by themes of repetition, variation and erosion. Anna works with bone china and semi-porcelain clay bodies, exploring the nature of the materials and developing new making techniques. Her lighting designs employ the delicate translucent qualities of bone china. Her signature dot vases originated from an experimental approach to developing a way of creating a two-dimensional pattern from a three dimensional texture. A kind of memory of form. Coloured layers of liquid semi-porcelain clay are built up in and pared back, refined and polished. The work is high fired to vitrification point so that it is water-tight, the surface matte and unglazed like a well-worn pebble.
Please follow Anna's developments on Instagram: @annajthomson
