“drawing with porcelain”

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Oh my goodness, I am in love with everything this woman makes. I am so excited to finally be talking to London based artist Katharine Morling. Her work looks like wonky black & white drawings… that happen to be made of porcelain! I had so many questions about her narratives, her process, and of course her story. Where did the idea for these beauties come from?! You can listen right up there under that lovely “pot of pencils”, or you can subscribe on iTunes.

Let’s get started with “Nature Boy”, shall we? He started in this little box, which led to all of the work below him {and there’s even more on her site!}:

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Porcelain cameras?! A butterfly net?! No, no, no… it’s all just too good.

This is the piece Katharine was talking about when she said she’s still not quite sure what it’s actually about! This is “Shifting Diamonds”:

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Gorgeous. Up next, the sewing basket she got at a very exciting Tupperware party when she was a kid, along with her mother’s sewing machine:

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I mean, come on! I want need a pair of those scissors.

This next piece is “Equipped”. Note the crosses she mentioned in a few of these beautiful household utensils:

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Lovely. That whisk might be my favorite.

Ah, her typewriter! I have loved this piece, titled “Poison Pen”, for ages but boy oh boy it certainly has new meaning after finding out that Katharine has severe dyslexia:

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… hence the wonky, confusing state of this lovely, porcelain machine.

I loved hearing about her process too! From sketching, to clay, to the fine line work {and I had to include a photo of Katharine so you could see the gorgeous woman behind that lovely English accent}:

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Ah yes, nothing like a little peek behind the curtain!

And finally, a gem from the ‘speed round’. Katharine’s first job, when she was 13, was at a tiny little green grocer’s. This was their cash register, and it inspired a piece titled “Plenty”:

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Her whimsical detail is just so insanely amazing! Look at that little box of matches… and those pencils… and allll of those coins! Sigh. Too good. And with that, I’ll say thanks to Katharine {and Rosie!} for spending an hour with me, big thanks to Saatchi Art for supporting episode 60 {!?}, and as always GIANT thanks to you for listening each week. There will be more art for your ear next weekend.

Other Links:

  1. Cockpit Arts, London
  2. Royal College of Art, London
  3. She is represented by Long & Ryle Gallery, London
  4. Louisa Taylor
  5. A few of the studio shots are from this New York Times article
  6. Some of Katharine’s smaller works are available in her shop

 






comments (13)

  1. Sabine S. from Germany /// 07.23.2016 /// 1:13am

    sooo beautiful!
    ♡ ly greetings sent by
    Sabine from WO(rms) in Germany

  2. Trace L Hentz /// 07.23.2016 /// 6:17am

    I am speechless – but WOW, amazing

  3. Hazel Siu /// 07.23.2016 /// 7:08am

    Neat idea and beautiful artworks.

  4. Jen /// 07.23.2016 /// 12:52pm

    Love Katharine’s work and so happy to hear her on the podcast!

  5. Julie /// 07.24.2016 /// 12:23am

    Such a fun listen and Wonderful work!!

  6. Melissa McCobb Hubbell /// 07.24.2016 /// 8:18am

    Oh Daniele – I am just writing to thank you – this has been one of the worst months of my life – financially and sick with stress and worry. I’ve been lost in it all. I closed the door on my studio and just try to get thru the days. This morning at an embarrassingly early hour I ran a bath, poured myself. A large glass of wine and listened to two of your podcasts. This one with the amazing ceramic artist and the one with the woman from australia that does the paper weaving. While I can relate more to the drawing/ceramics artists work, the things that were touched on in the paper artists work – about how your podcasts help so many of us around the world not feel alone had me sobbing – in a good way. I am not a practicing Christian but in my personal spirituality associate with Christian iddiology – that being said you are an angel sent from God that reaches out to so many souls – some lost and alone – and reminds us that we weird artist types are not alone. Thank you so much for what you do. It gives me courage to face another day. XOX Melissa

  7. the jealous curator /// 07.24.2016 /// 8:46am

    oh melissa, i have sooooo been there too! i’m so glad you know you’re not alone. just keep getting into that studio and know that we’re all doing the same in all of our little corners of the world {and there’s probably a pretty large % of us also drinking wine in the bath!) ; ) xo

  8. Heidi Lanino Bilezikian /// 07.25.2016 /// 6:15am

    such beautiful work, so inviting.
    love that you type lowercase, it is quieter and very ee cummings!

  9. the jealous curator /// 07.25.2016 /// 8:05am

    ha! very interesting… my maiden name is cumming (no s!) ; )

  10. Emittra /// 07.26.2016 /// 3:48am

    Wow! Never heard of her, but I like her work. It’s a new kind of drawing and I find it very interesting.

  11. Pattern Pulp - Friday Quick Links! /// 07.29.2016 /// 2:00pm

    […] illustrations via Design Crush 11. Talking with Katharine Morling who draws in porcelain via The Jealous Curator 12. Loving Klaycraft’s handcrafted clay bead chandeliers via The Design […]

  12. Joann Tomsche /// 08.05.2016 /// 4:36pm

    The rack of kitchen utensils, the butterflies, the sewing basket – I cannot think of words to describe how uniquely wonderful these are. And I see a LOT of art at the gallery I manage.

  13. Must-Reads for Creatives: From Comparison to Creative Freedom - In Tandem /// 08.28.2016 /// 10:15am

    […] “Drawing with Porcelain” >>>  […]