Kent Potter's Association Elaine Peto Master Day

Elaine Peto Master Day, 12 February 2000

Elaine Peto gave up pottery classes as a young girl - because it conflicted with riding horses! At college in Exeter she gave them up again, in order to persue other types of sculpture. It was only after graduation, when she was trying to work out what to do next, that she finally realised that pottery - or at least clay - was it!

In her demonstration, Elaine chatted aimiably about her work, the anatomy of sheep, and the practicalities of pottery. At the same time she constructed a magnificent ram - and left us all amazed.

Elaine formed a slab of clay by rolling it on textured cloth, and then teasing it into the shape of the back of the ram. She stretched the shape to mark the hip bones, and added further slabs to make the legs.	Additional slabs were added to form the neck, belly sides and head. The form of the underlying musculature being emphasised with her fingers from inside the form.
Small pieces of clay were added to build up detail, such as the fold of flesh over the hoof. Horns were modelled from a lighter clay, and details of the fleece were added using extruded clay "hair".	The final product. Elaine said that many people name the animals she makes. I think this one should be Ricky!
Some Cows	A Good "Hare" Day!