Elizabeth Petcu
Spontaneous, innovative, playful
Q&A
Artist Statement
A professional musician, Elizabeth had the good fortune to have begun her “clay play” with Peter and Helena Brennan, the pioneering couple of studio pottery in Ireland, in the early 1980’s. Paul Martin in The Bray Institute of Further Education was another inspiring mentor.
What craft do you work with?
Working mainly in porcelain now, Elizabeth uses organic shapes and textures to create her pieces
What inspires you to work with this craft?
Inspired by the work of Margaret O’ Rorke, she sometimes illuminates the work to further capture the unique translucence of the material with a golden glow from within. Elizabeth can make porcelain look like paper, white leaves or eggs. She returns continuously to the life-giving ovoid form, playfully calling them Dragon Eggs.
How do you start your creative process?
Elizabeth approaches her work in a playful way and often finds a new direction in an observed “mistake.”
How would you best describe your workspace and what tools could you not do without?
My workspace is far from ideal at the moment but who knows ….. in the future …… I could not do without my little sharp knife and my favourite, soft, slip brush.
Are there new techniques you would like to try?
I’m collecting organic materials at the moment like seaweed, grasses and horsetail to experiment with making ash for homemade glazes. I also want to incorporate more wheel-throwing into my work and to make bigger work when my studio space and kiln allow.
Media & Contact
Representation
Gallery Zozimus | Elizabeth Petcu Archives – Gallery Zozimus
Photography credit
Twin Lustred Dragon Eggs – Photography by Finbarr O’ Rourke
Giant Dragon Eggs – Photography by Rory Moore
Large Cornu Copia – Photography by Rory Moore
Unstable – Photography by Rory Moore
Studio – Photography by Elizabeth Petcu
Location
Ireland
Material Library entries
These are Materials that were discovered and crafted by the Craft person behind this profile