Introducing Alex Holmes
Introducing: Alex Holmes
Who are you?
I’m Alex Holmes (follow @alxceramx if you want to see a ridiculous number of throwing time-lapses). I’m the one you can’t get to stop chatting when you’re in the studio – so say hi at your own risk. I’m a PhD Researcher up at the University of Leeds that wanted to use pottery as a nice relaxing hobby alongside the studying stress… although sometimes it feels the other way around….
Share one pottery goal you have for 2022.
Quality over quantity – I want to get good at making things that match the image in my head and not keeping anything that isn’t exactly that.
What sparked your love affair with clay?
I did a taster session back in October 2019 and it was the first time in my adult life I got to do something that wasn’t only fun but also really low stakes, I fell in love!
Has a pot ever broken your heart?
In Rebecca’s words “pottery helps you deal with loss”, which has definitely helped – but doesn’t mean that the first darted jug I made that cracked didn’t emotionally devastate me.
What are your favourite and least favourite parts of the pottery process?
Favourite part – thinking up over ambitious ideas
Least favourite part – executing over ambitious ideas
How have any of your other hobbies/interests influenced your work?
My other creative hobby is knitting and as much as sometimes I get the urge to stab a misshapen pot with needles, I’m not sure it’s influenced my pottery at all. Although they complement each other, it’s nice to have to focus on the wheel vs knitting while watching Love Is Blind, and who doesn’t want a homemade tea-cosy for their handmade teapots?
Tell us about an artist/ceramicist you look up to.
Two artists I’ve been really into recently are Peter Voulkos, particularly his stacked forms, and Rose Schmits for pots with personality (and legs).
Describe your relationship with clay in one word.
Dependent!
Finally, can you recommend a podcast/book or something you’ve watched that has inspired you recently?
I got “Amazing Glaze” by Gabriel Kline for Christmas, and it’s full of ideas for glazes and cool forms to try out.
