MEET OUR MAKERS

MARGARET FRITH

ceramicist / Gwneuthurwr Cerameg

Margaret discovered clay at Bolton College of Art and developed this enthusiasm at Stoke-on-Trent School of Art under Derek Emms. He introduced her to working with reduction fired stoneware in the Eastern tradition. It was at this time that she met her husband David and they started to lay the foundation for the establishment of their workshop which they have had now for forty years.
Over the last few years, much experimentation has gone into the development of her own porcelain body and glazes. The smoothness of the porcelain makes it ideal for carving. Although she draws beforehand, Margaret prefers to work directly onto the clay for greater spontaneity and flow. She also works with copper red glazes which have an elusive appeal as they tend to burn out easily during the reduction firing. Used in combination with other heavy iron glazes, they give deep shades of purples, oranges and reds. An extra dimension to Margaret’s work has been the introduction of wood firing and ashed surfaces. She enjoys uniting the tightness of the porcelain with a total random and carefree attitude.
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Daeth Margaret o hyd i glai tra ei bod yng Ngholeg Celf Bolton a datblygodd ei diddordeb yng Ngholeg Celf Stoke-on-Trent dan gyfarwyddyd Derek Emms. Fe gyflwynodd e hi i weithio gyda crochenwaith called wedi ei danio mewn atmosffer wedi ei leihau drwy’r traddodiad o’r Dwyrain. Yn yr adeg hwn y cyfarfu ei gŵr, David, ble sefydlon nhw eu gweithdy sydd bellach wedi bod yn rhedeg ers deugain mlynedd.
Yn ystod yr ychydig flynyddoedd diwethaf, mae llawer o arbrofi wedi digwydd gyda’i gwaith â gwydreddau proslen eu hun. Mae llyfnder y porslen yn ei gwneud yn ddelfrydol ar gyfer cerfio. Er ei bod yn tynnu llun ymlaen llaw, hoffai Margaret I weithio’n uniongyrchol â’r clai er mwyn datblygu mwy o naturioldeb a llif yn y gwaith. Mae hi hefyd yn gweithio â gwydreddau copr coch sy’n anodd iawn I’w datblygu, gan eu bod yn dueddol i losgi allan yn ystod y taniad. Gan eu defnyddio mewn cyfuniad â gwydreddau haearn eraill, maent yn rhoi arlliwiau dwfn o borffor, oren a choch i’r gwaith. Mae dimensiwn ychwanegol i waith Margaret gan ychwanegu tanio pren ac arwynebau wedi ei haenu â lludw. Mae’n mwynhau uno tyndra y porslen â chyfanswm o agweddau ar hap i greu eu darnau unigryw.