Wardell, Sasha

Sasha Wardell is born in Negombo , Sri Lanka in 1956. Training 1976-79 B.A. Hons in 3D Design (Ceramics) at Bath Academy of Art, Corsham 1978 Studied Industrial Ceramics at Ecole Nationale des Arts Decoratifs, Limoges , France 1979-81 M.A. in Ceramic Design at North Staffordshire Polytechnic, Stoke on Trent 1980 Industrial Training at Royal Doulton, Stoke on Trent Teaching 1981-84 Lecturer in Ceramics on B.A. Combined Crafts degree at Crewe and Alsager Since 83 Visiting lecturer at Bath , Brighton , Bristol , Cardiff , Carlisle , Central St. Martins London, Camarthan, Croydon, Derby, Leicester, Limerick and Stoke on Trent Member of Arts Feu Entreprise/Esprit Porcelaine (Ceramic group based in Limoges, France 1989 Member of Southern Arts Association (Crafts Panel) 1989-96 Move to Brive La Gaillarde (France) to establish workshop and run residential summer courses Since 93 International workshops in Toulouse and Clermont Ferrand, France ; Namur, Antwerp and Brasschaat, Belgium; Ballenberg and Carouge (Geneva ) 1996-97 Re-establish her workshop in England 1998-00  Research Fellowship at Bath Spa University College (part-time) 2000-03  External examiner for Diploma couse at Limerick College of Art and Design, Eire 2005 Masterclass at Atelier Cirkel, Brasschaat , Belgium Australian workshop tour at Mittagong, NSW; Devonport, Tasmania and Freemantle, WA. 2006 Masterclass at Atelier Cirkel, Brasschaat and Liege, Belgium Visiting lecturer at Galway College of Art and Design, Eire 2007 Masterclass at Atelier Cirkel, Brasschaat, Belgium 2008 Masterclass at Centro de Artesania y Diseno, Lugo, Spain Masterclass at Atelier Cirkel, Brasschaat , Belgium 2011 Elected member to the IAC (International Academy of Ceramics) Geneva, Switzerland Design – Work in Production 1981 Tableware design ‘Ambassador’  for Royal Grafton China , Stoke on Trent Awards 1984 Grand Prix at1st World Triennial of Small Ceramics, Zagreb 1986 British Council Sponsorship to attend Winter Artists’ Colony Karlovac , Croatia 1987 Zagreb Prize at 2nd World Triennial of Small Ceramics, Zagreb 1990 Diploma at 12th Biennial of Ceramic Art, Vallauris , France 1997  Joint winner of Handel House Gallery ‘Summer Show’, Devizes 1998 Bursary from Southern Arts Association for Research Fellowship at Bath Spa University College 2002 Bursary from The Craft Potters’ Charitable Trust for book rese 2012 Participant on “Crafted Mentoring Scheme” Current Work Slip cast bone china vases, bowls, wall lights and pendant lights. (Above information from her own website: www.sashawardell.com ) Sasha Wardell has been working in bone china since 1982 after completing both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in ceramics in the UK. These included industrial training periods at L’Ecole Nationale des Arts Decoratifs in Limoges and the design studio at the Royal Doulton factory, Stoke on Trent. Both experiences have strongly influenced the way in which she presently works resulting in a fascination and intrigue for methods and material which present a challenge. It is for this reason that bone china, with all its idiosyncrasies, has remained her favourite material. It is very ‘single-minded’ clay which forces clarity and precision whilst demanding perseverance. Possessing qualities of intense whiteness, translucency and strength, make it a very seductive material to work with. Architectural detail and sections of structure, combined with an interest in illusions provide the starting point for the pieces whilst the inherent qualities of the clay do the rest – its whiteness offers a pure blank canvas for the application of colour and its translucency enhances any varying degrees of luminosity. (Information from website: www.studiopottery.co.uk ) Pictures: portrait (photographer Tim Gander); portrait (source Studio Pottery.co.uk); Sacha in her studio (source The Period); vase  with pastel colours (collection Capriolus); two bowls Theme Grass (source website artist).

Sasha Wardell makes small functional forms, including jugs and dishes in Bone China (clay mixed with bone ash). She casts them into plaster forms, and is able to make them as thin as egg-shells, in order to intensify their translucency. The forms are fired three times. The decorations are air-brushed onto skins through a number of complicated masks. They consist of a repeating pattern of natural elements, like flower petals, or geometrical ornaments. Polishing gives the work a mat satin glow, beautifully matching the harmonious, refined form and drawing.

Wardell, Sacha, Slipcasting , (A&C Black) 1997 / 2007 (2 nd edition) Wardell, Sasha, Porcelain and Bone China , (Crowood Press) 2004