Crafter Interview
Hello! My name is Charlotte Hupfield. I am a Ceramic Designer/Maker, living and making my work in Northamptonshire, UK. My passion is clay! I have a beautiful cat named Molly, I have a huge soft spot for anything earthy, natural & organic, I enjoy going for walks in the woods, I love to sit out in the garden on a summer evening chatting with a glass of wine, sunshine makes me smile. My favourite foods are pizza, roast chicken & marshmallows (although not all together!), and I love trying tasty new recipes. I make a collection of individually handmade vases, bowls, coasters, clocks, sculptural vessels, plaques, hangings, letter racks, and smaller items such as brooches, magnets and buttons.
It all started with my fascination with clay at school, which led me to develop my creative skills at college where I completed various A-Levels including 3D Design, Fine Art and Art & Design. This broad range of artistic skills and knowledge got me straight into university where I studied a BA (Hons) in Surface Decoration. I have always found surfaces, patterns, textures and colours the most visually appealing. Throughout this 3 year course I specialised in ceramics and focused on developing my own style of work. I have now been continuing to make and develop my work from my workshop in my garden for the past 2 years.
Clay, clay, and more clay!
My favourite pieces of work are the range from my Degree Show. I made three large organic sculptural vessels, and one smaller sized piece. They were displayed together to resemble a family. Alongside these vessels I also made two framed prints which have the same natural pattern impressed onto the paper, as onto the clay. I really enjoyed making this batch of work.
I have huge soft spots for every piece of my work as they are all unique one-offs, but I am especially pleased with my Panelled Ceramic Wall Hanging. It was an experiment that turned out just as I'd hoped, I really must make some more of these.
I love all natural colours, especially browns, creams, greens and blues.