10 years of handmade ceramics: conclusions and insights

How awesome is modern Ukrainian handmade ceramics? I think (and not only me) that we are in the top 5 among all countries on Earth. In fact, it is a well-known fact, our masters are something special. And I am not only talking about my brother and I, but also about other masters whom I know personally, or I don’t know, but I have seen their work, so I can say that in terms of complexity, experimentalism and popularity they are in no way inferior to the elite Japanese or the inventive Chinese. Especially since Ukraine is in the top 3 largest producers of handmade ceramics in the world.

Here, at home, Ukrainians have very different attitudes towards ceramics. Well, really, radically: some adore it no less than we do, although they have never sculpted themselves. It blows people’s minds! Well, of course, someone is very cold towards ceramics and handwork, and that’s no problem, ceramic art, handwork with clay has been developing in the Nenka region for a very long time.

A separate action-packed scenario: doing Ukrainian ceramics during the war – there are many questions to yourself and from others. I don’t have a clear answer to most of them, and you learn to live without clear answers, to continue creating and believing that it will somehow hold up, will somehow be preserved and will grow. Because it’s worth it, in the world of digitally mediated clip experience, here in a Kyiv ceramic workshop you come across a real product that requires endurance, time, and real capabilities. So yes, we wanted to make handmade ceramics as a gift, but first of all we wanted to create some kind of custom-made ceramics, for ourselves and only for ourselves.

The limits of handmade ceramics to order: casting and modeling

You can do anything, but the question is how many iterations it takes and how many times a person is willing to redo everything for the sake of success. Well, actually, a typical story. Some projects, like a huge ceramic cube (50x50x50) molded by hands, or the most complex lamp made by ceramic casting will crack in the oven during firing for logical reasons. But for example, 3 chessboards crack not for logical reasons, but simply because the orcs deprived Kyiv of heating and electricity: as a result, the temperature in the workshop dropped below -5. That is why Ukrainian handmade ceramics are a real collection of very interesting stories!

If you want to make the ceramic gods laugh, then plan how the glaze on the handmade will flow during firing. Yes, I’ve told everyone about it, but ceramists know, it’s such a mess, where every degree in the kiln and the placement of the products on the vise and even mini strokes, mini layers of applied glaze have a drastic effect on how the finished product will look. The most difficult thing is that when you apply the glaze, you can’t see not only what color it will be, but you can’t always see how many layers there are.

Handmade ceramics teaches you not to have unnecessary expectations. Especially before the first test glaze firing. Clay teaches you to endure the results of long work that must be thrown away. What is this, if not getting rid of expectations? If you don’t learn at least basic cheap Zen Buddhism, then it’s better not to fill the kiln with products to the brim, believe me.

Ceramic non-stop atelier KERRA: insights

It should be noted that we have a family ceramic workshop – it gives a little insight into the context of how we move as a team. Over breakfast, we can discuss for half an hour why a handmade cup should be glazed in 3, and not 2 glazes. And seriously, it’s not easy, but it’s worth it, because you grow towards each other. I think even family games of doubles tennis do not teach connection as much as handmade ceramics do. There was no more prolonged and strong experience of rapprochement and acceptance than not just a joint business, but a joint Kyiv ceramic workshop during the war!

Sometimes taking your time is not an option, but a forced course of action, because underdrying is an explosion in the kiln and the loss of not only the product that exploded, but also the one standing nearby. You always think twice and “squeeze” your hand from haste. This is a cool skill that over time is transferred to real life. I really like it.

I am often asked what I like more: sculpting or casting ceramics to order right away for money, or creating my own designs with the risk that they will not reach the audience? Haha, here with experience I can say that often ceramics for an individual order opens up either the form or the concept of the path to the very “own” designs. Therefore, I believe that this is a very delicate topic and I would not answer this question linearly. It is important to do both, this way the boundaries of ceramic possibilities will expand.

Ceramic workshop: work with attention and context

Big windows are the solution! A pottery workshop can look different, especially after a big casting. We talked about what a big casting is in this article. But large windows cover everything, even if sunlight falls on a complete mess, a real ceramic chaos at the right angle – everything looks creative and aesthetic. And shelves! The more shelves – the better. Because with passion, there will be a lot of everything in the workshop! And not only products… Tables are the main thing in the workshop, even more important than tools.

Meditative silent days in an empty pottery workshop are one of the best experiences in my life. Well, it’s true, ceramic work is very unhurried, very exceptional and attentive. Working with attention in ceramics, and in the workshop in general – one of the best gifts from ceramics to a ceramist. You understand that attention is in the hands and in the fingers and in the eyes and in millimeters. In general, the experience of long work on modeling is esoteric and very deep. For example: what is the difference between holding your breath and holding it?

The ceramic workshop will show you.