slow living with rêve en vert

I was lucky enough to chat with the wonderful folk over at Rêve en Vert about my art practice, daily rituals and inspiration behind my work.

Below is an excerpt from the interview and you can read the full chat by clicking the link at the bottom of the page.

Can you tell us a bit about what inspired you to create Toro Studio?

I am generally a very curious person and want to explore different parts of my creativity. I have never followed one career path in life and so a studio for me is a safe space that allows me to be creative in any way I want. It feels like an ever evolving platform that is both deeply individual and part of a greater creative community. 

What does the idea of “slow made” ceramics mean to you?

All of my pieces are created using hand building techniques such as pinch and coiling, they are not thrown on a pottery wheel. This inevitably means that the process of shaping and building is much slower. For me, this pace allows me to find a meditative flow state and a rhythm that calms my nervous system and allows my mind to wander. I hope that this slow rhythm also resonates within the finished piece.

What are the traditional techniques you use in your sculptures and how do you look to more artisanal and time honoured methods to do things consciously? 

I mostly use pinch and coiling techniques to slowly build up shapes. There is something very primal about working with clay, especially with very limited equipment, just your hands and this incredible substance from the earth. There is a kind of limitless future potential and a deep connection to the past. 

How does the process of making things by hand help you to create a more sustainable business model? 

I am interested in the idea of how to grow a business holistically. I can physically only make a certain number of pieces a year, and I want to prioritise other values beyond profit. Thinking about growth in a meaningful way for me involves thinking about interconnectivity, outreach, mutual support and community. Working in Cornwall helps me think about these things in a direct way as there are some inherent challenges of living in a remote, rural place. I am also grateful to be surrounded by some incredibly conscious, compassionate business owners here and it feels like together we can challenge each other and hold ourselves to higher standards.

You say on your site that “objects hold spiritual weight” - can you speak a bit to this? 

I’ve always been drawn to material things, objects that I have in my spaces that make me feel good. The most special of these things are the first to be unpacked when I move house and have over the years become imbued with qualities that are beyond the aesthetic. Objects can make us feel home, safe, inspired, connected to others, connected to something bigger. Humans give meaning to things and this fascinates me, especially with those objects made so directly by another human being. 

Do you have any rituals you perform for natural stress relief? 

When I start the day by entering the sea and feel the weightlessness of being in water there is an indescribable sense of calm and connection that underpins the day. Even on the coldest January days, there is a feeling of being nourished.