Olga Blokh

I work with clay and i make unique ceramic art objects and small series.

Q&A

What craft do you work with?

I work with clay and i make unique ceramic art objects and small series. I started my professional studies in ceramics in 2018 and opened my own studio called Bloch Ceramics in Puumala, Finland, in 2020. I work with all techniques: wheel throwing, hand / slab building and slip casting. I enjoy switching techniques and forms a lot.

What inspires you to work with this craft?

Nature and lake Saimaa is a huge inspiration for me. From my studio window I see every day beautiful lake and how the weather and seasons change year around. Birds and forest animals come to visit me once in a while. Just the other day I enjoyed watching the moose and its calf on the walk on the ice.

I often use local materials, such as lake sand, wood ashes and wild clay. I like to paint pots with my glazes intuitively and see how the surface turned out after firing.

My first anagama wood firing was in 2021, and it inspired me a lot. We shared a kiln with 30 other ceramicsts and fired the anagama for 4 days and 3 nights. It is a hard work but it is also so very much giving. While firing you get to understand the fire and its behaviour, also fire woods, air, wind, time and clay. I can’t wait for my next firing that will be in October, 2022.

I also make figurines based on my comics art called ”Murpups from Puumala”. I usually slipcast my figurines, but I also hand build them out of porcelain or stoneware. I love colors and I use them a lot while painting my sculptures with pigments and underglazes.

How do you start your creative process?

When i work on the wheel i like to be spontaneous and see where clay is leading me. I have an idea of a form in my mind and i like to play it around. For example, if i think of a bottle, i would probably make several variations with different bodies, shoulders and necks. I enjoy throwing unique pieces.

How would you best describe your workspace and what tools could you not do without?

My studio is situated in ex-boathouse that we remake into ceramic studio. I have about 20 m2 of space, where i have working tables, pottery wheel, kiln and shelves. I have enough space to make ceramics in all building techniques. There is no running water in the studio. So i take water from the lake that is just few meters from my studio. In summertime i make and dry my pieces outside. I do not make a pugmill or slab roller table in my studio, that’s why i do everything by hand, including clay reclaiming.

I would say my best tools are my hands. Also i really love my red kidney-rib by Mudtools, it is the best tool ever. I also make my own tools from wood, plaster and anything i find around that can be usable in clay works.

Are there new techniques you would like to try?

I am dreaming of traveling around the world, meeting traditional potters and learning their own techniques! I am interested in Japanese way of making pottery. I would love to participate in anagama and noborigama firing some day.

I am excited about pottery of Peru and Mexico, antique Greek pots, Portugese tiles and Spanish and Italian majolica. I’d love to try them all!

What have you learnt or the best advice you have received that you would like to share with fellow crafters?

The best professional advice i have received is advice from my husband to take it easy and enjoy the process. Everything else will come along.

What other types of craft do you dream of collaborating with?

I would like to try glassblowing someday, glass is really fascinating material. Also i fond of wood working. It would be great to learn print making on different materials: textiles, wood, ceramics, paper.

What professional dream do you have?

My professional dream is to have enough time and capability to fulfil all the ideas i have.