In my mid-30s I took a night class in portraiture – again with a wonderful teacher – and that re-ignited my love for visual art. But I made an important discovery: my imagination works better in three dimensions. I found I could sculpt what I could not draw and then spent several years creating miniatures in polymer clay. My sculptures found homes around the world, and I was the fortunate recipient of several awards in the miniature and doll-making genres. Yet I hungered to create things that were …. enduring. Who knows how long plastic really lasts? I gave up sculpting and entertained myself by beading and leather working, but in my late 40s I still felt that was another leg of the journey to come. In late 2009 my ex-sister-in-law met a man on the internet and ran away. She left behind her bead-making kiln, which I got custody of.
Well, now here was an interesting thing! After an initial flirtation with precious metal clay, I discovered enamelling and fell in love. How fascinating it was – the history, the process. When I read about enamels, I was gratified to learn about their longevity. I visited the Metropolitan Museum in New York and saw enamels that were 400 years old and looked new! I was so inspired. Here was that road I was looking for: to create something that would last beyond myself. I armed myself with good books and joined Grains of Glass in early 2010 and set out on my most challenging journey so far. Why is enamelling so much more complex? Well, for one thing, you can’t edit it! Once glass has fused in the kiln, you can’t change your mind, as you can with words. You can only alter your course. What is most frustrating – and satisfying – about enamel is that is a DEEP endeavour. You might learn the basics in an afternoon and spend the rest of your life perfecting it. About a year ago I made a commitment to myself that I would enamel every day. I would get up earlier so that I could complete my ‘paying work’ by one o’clock, and then go into the studio after that, and do my best. I realised that it takes at least 30 years to become a decent enamelist and I am not getting any younger. Time is of the essence!
