The Buckhind Braes Baws project is rolling along and we are fast approaching the completion of the design stage.  Our multi talented group have embraced every aspect of the project so far, developing exciting and individual responses to the Fife Coastal Path at Buckhaven. Collectively these ideas will form curios, beautiful and intriguing pattern designs for our sets of carpet bowls.

We are delighted to have swelled our numbers with new recruit Janette and we are now also working with local joiner and carpenter Alex Donnelly who has agreed to make boxes for our sets of bowls. The group have been meeting regularly at Buckhaven Community Centre working hard but also enjoying good lunches and regular tea and cake breaks.

Photographs have been carefully looked through and organised onto the wall of our studio.

Sorting through our research pictures

A set of fast paced drawing activities triggered an abundance of exciting starting points for pattern designs.

Liz filling up her sketch book

I designed a flyer for the project

The flyer is based on a diagram of how to set up a game of carpet bowls

Keen fisherman Gareth has developed intricate illustrations of his daily trips to the sea- shore.

Gareth

Liz has filled her sketch book with an array of exciting possibilities from patterns inspired by the staring eyes and bright colours of the Wemyss Ware Cats to the distinctive weather beaten wood of the fishermen’s sheds with their heavily padlocked doors.

Liz

Liz

Christine has also been thinking about our wander through the fishermen’s sheds, developing designs around the lobster pots and also a curios stone form that may have been a mooring point for boats at some point in the harbours history.

Christine

Christine

Janette has focused on summer time at the Buckhind Braes creating a set of illustrations depicting picnics, sandcastles and jaunty looking seagulls.

Janette

Marion has managed to pin down a long list of exciting possibilities to her interest in astronomy and will use the constellations as motifs for delicate repeat patterns.

With design ideas nearing completion our plaster moulds were put into action with the group forming an efficient production line, weighing out lumps of clay, wedging and de-airing and carefully pressing out the lumps of clay into spheres. The first stage of a multi-layered process of drying, refining, firing, polishing, painting, and glazing that will take us to the finished work.

Janette press moulding

Press moulded bowls drying out

We all meet again on the 28th October at Edinburgh Ceramic Studio where we will look at how to transfer our designs from the page onto the carpet bowls. In the mean time I have lots of glaze tests and firings to get ready.

Frances