Workspace | Charlotte Hupfield Ceramics

In the Workshop…

November 05, 2012 Charlotte No comments

This time of year is a bit of a nightmare in the workshop. I’m finding the clay is taking much longer to dry compared to in the summer months. I might have to start bringing pieces inside the house where it is warm and cosy to finish off the drying out process soon.

A selection of custom orders are in progress at the moment. I love working on custom pieces, especially because each piece is unique. It’s nice to work on something different if I’ve had enough of making lots of similar pieces.

The workshop is looking slightly more tidy than usual, due to my photo shoot with the Daventry Express newspaper last week. A photographer came to photograph me with some of my work for a special Christmas craft feature for local handmade products. I’m looking forward to seeing the photos although I think they might look rather cheesy…

Posted in: work in progress, Workshop, workspace

In the Workshop…

May 24, 2012 Charlotte No comments

It has gone from one extreme to the other out in the workshop over the past couple of weeks… Last week it was cold and damp with everything taking an age to dry out, and with the heater on to keep warm. Whereas this week it is actually physically too hot to be in the workshop, and everything is drying out in no time at all! The insulation lining on the walls is great for keeping the heat in during winter, but it also keeps it in during summer!

Yesterday I moved a work bench outside and managed to get lots of glazing done in the sunshine. I also managed to find some time to have a big clear out and tidy up last week, so it is feeling a lot more organised and makes a nice change not to be working in messy chaos. I found a few lingering spiders hiding in the corners too!

I’ve loved all of the custom requests I had this month. It has been great creating new pieces that are different and to someone else’s specification. A few custom requests to mention have been a seahorse in a frame, a large bonsai tree planter (detail below), some custom engraved ceramic gift tags, a new born baby plaque, and some other bits, as well as all the other pieces I mentioned last week.

I’m also currently preparing a selection of work for an exciting Coastal themed exhibition starting in July – more details on that soon!

The kiln will be loaded tomorrow lunch time so I’m looking forward to peering inside at my next batch of finished pieces in a few days.

Posted in: handmade ceramics, work in progress, Workshop, workspace

My Creative Space & Exciting News

February 11, 2010 Charlotte 3 Comments

This week I’ve been out in the workshop a lot. It’s much warmer with the new insulation up, and Dave coated the outside so it should have sealed it all a lot more too.

I’ve been busy casting new vases, and making more of my usual pieces. I’ve also started on some new items, but they will remain a secret for the moment! I’m looking forward to seeing how they turn out.

I’ve also been making lots more bowls with wavy edges. I’ve incorporated a new design into some of them. I’ll show you the results soon!

I’ve also had some exciting news. A new store in historic Lavenham, Suffolk is due to be opened in mid March, stocking hand crafted goods from around the world. The owner contacted me last week about supplying my products, and we’ve arranged a large wholesale order! I’ll initially be supplying the new store with vases, bowls, clocks and wall plaques.

So I’m busy most evenings at the moment…

Posted in: historic lavenham, my creative space, shop, studio, suffolk, Workshop, workspace

Workspace Feature

February 05, 2010 Charlotte 4 Comments

I’ve kindly had my workspace and an interview featured on the Nottingham Craft Mafia blog. I really enjoyed writing about my workshop, it made me appreciate the space I’ve got, no matter how cold it is at the moment! Click here to read the interview with more images. Thanks to Helen for featuring me!

I also have another exciting feature coming up on the Craft Mafia blog soon, it will be all about my sketchbooks under the category ‘Sketchbook Peeks’, so be sure to look out for that!

The Nottingham Craft Mafia is a vibrant and creative place to find all sorts of interesting stuff such as book reviews, featured artists, local happenings, workshops, competitions, events, and loads more including yummy foodie treats! Take a look at this 5 Min Cake in a Mug recipe. Apologies if you are trying to diet

Posted in: nottingham craft mafia, Recipes, studio, Workshop, workspace

My studio has been featured!

December 21, 2009 Charlotte 4 Comments

I wrote this article for the Artists in Business blog, as they have a “In The Studio” section and feature a few artists every month. I had a message today saying I’d been featured for December, and here it is:

Ceramic Artist Charlotte Hupfield

“My passion for ceramics started from an early age, and it was at university where my skills, techniques, understanding and creativity developed. After graduating in 2008 I have continued to develop my ceramics over the past 18 months.

I began by working from home which wasn’t ideal as it got rather messy and storage space was limited. When everything took off 6 months ago I decided it was time to have my own creative space to produce work.

My workshop in the garden has been a life-saver and I don’t know what I would do without it now. It’s nice to sit out there at my leisure with a cup of tea. It’s also great to have so much natural light coming in through the windows. I have the occasional friends that sometimes come to say hello, such as the robin who watches me through the window, and the squirrel who jumps about on the roof! There is a big Christmas tree right outside the window, so I’m looking forward to the sight of it decorated nearer to Christmas.

I enjoy cleaning, tidying and organising my workshop every now and then but it soon gets untidy again! I made my own ceramic plaque which hangs on the outside next to the door. My plaques have been quite popular this year and I’ve made several for other peoples’ craft cabins and studios.

It gets a bit stuffy in the summer but it’s nice to have the door open with fresh air coming in. On the other hand, I’m just starting to experience the winter weather! I’m lucky to have a hallogen heater which heats up the small space and soon makes it feel warm and cosy.

My current work ranges from handmade items inspired by the natural world such as vases, bowls, sculptural vessels, coasters, plaques, clocks, letter racks, candle shaders, as well as smaller items including magnets, keyrings and brooches. I’m looking forward to lots of future design and creativity in my workshop.”

Posted in: artists in business, featured workshop, garden, studio, Workshop, workspace

Workshop snaps, work in progress…

October 10, 2009 Charlotte 1 Comment

I have noticed a big change in the weather whilst out in the workshop this week, it has been sooo cold! I’m lucky to have a halogen heater which soon heats up the small space, making it feel nice and cosy. I’ve noticed someone watching me from outside while I’m working… he’s small and fat with a red chest – Mr Robin is back! I think he’s waiting for the mealworms, although all the greedy starlings eat them all.

I’ve had a busy couple of days in the workshop and thought I’d take a few photos while its looking tidy(ish). Above is a selection of new vases, sculptural vessels, a pile of coasters and some new Christmas tree decorations in the shapes of stars and trees. I’m glad to be getting ready for Christmas early this year, I hate rushing at the last minute.

Here’s my main workspace where everything gets prepared, with the big Christmas tree right outside the window in the garden. You can see some of my vases in the moulds which were cast earlier today, they will be ready to take out tomorrow.

This is a shot of my wall full of inspirational images and photos, with pieces of work drying ready to be smoothed with finished edges. I do this when the clay is leather-hard (not too soft and not too dry). I’ve made a few trial letter racks, not sure how they will turn out as its a new idea but I hope they look ok.

These sheets of paper pinned on the wall are full of new design ideas that I’m currently working on. I also use them as a noticeboard to jot down ideas when I’m making batches of work. They are also handy for writing down the time when I’ve poured casting slip into my moulds for each item so I know how long they have been in, its sometimes hard to keep track of time when a few things are on the go at once!

I got given loads of unwanted bags of different glazes a few weeks ago. I made test samples for each glaze, and these are my favourites. You can’t quite see in the photo but the top left sample has little cratered bubbles on the surface, and the bottom left has lots of tiny brown specks in it. The glaze on the bottom right is a deep brown with exploded red patches, I think this one will be nice to use on some of the Christmas decorations as its got a warm Christmassy feel about it.

Other new work on the go is a range of smooth pebble shaped keyrings, candle shaders, bowls, wall plaques and lots more mini sculptures as I’ve sold my last batch.

I’m really pleased with my work in progress so far, so I’m off to treat myself with a chocolate eclair now!!

Posted in: featured workshop, handmade ceramics, my creative space, My Work, studio, work in progress, workspace

Grand Tour of my new Den!

June 26, 2009 Charlotte 3 Comments

It’s finally set up and ready to go!!! I have been so excited arranging where I wanted everything to be placed and finding homes for my tools and materials etc, although I have been a little impatient as I haven’t fully insulated it from the inside yet. It gets way to hot in there at the moment though! I’ve decided to leave it til the end of summer. I have filled all the gaps with expanding foam as you should be able to see (mostly to stop the spiders coming in), which will prevent wind and rain.

I still have a list of things which need to be done, such as a roller blind to put up (did initially want mini curtains but thought they would attract too much dust from the clay), a pin board where I can keep images, ideas and jot down notes, a plaque needs to be hung on the front which is waiting to be fired as we speak, a padlock to go on the door, some sort of coating to treat the outer wood from weathering, and of course the insulating.

I’ve put together two large collages of images which are displayed on the walls – one full of inspirational images and some of my own photos, and another of other artists and ceramic artists work whose I love.

Here’s me working! I was beginning a sculptural vessel. Do you like my pink apron?

I have two work benches which fit all the way along the windowed wall, so its nice to look out at the garden while I’m working.

This is my shelving area and where I keep some of my moulds.

Theres plenty of storage space under the work benches to keep my glaze materials, oxides, scales, clay, moulds, safety equipment, tools, newspaper, etc. The benches also have shelves on the bottom which is very handy.

Thats it for now! I wasn’t sure whether or not to show you these images because it is not completely finished, but these can be the inbetween stage photos! I’ll show you some more when the other things are done… in the meantime I’m sure you can guess where I’ll be spending most of my time?!

Posted in: featured workshop, storage, studio, Workshop, workspace

My New Workshop!

June 15, 2009 Charlotte 4 Comments

I’m so excited to have my new ‘workshop’ built! I haven’t started to move everything in yet as I’m waiting to get a high wooden work bench to put inside, and I would like to insulate the walls and roof from inside so its not as cold in winter. I also plan to put some mini curtains or a roller blind up, it will be lovely and cosy!

Thanks to my Dad and Dave for putting it up at the weekend. I had a great job of being the spectator, letting them know how it looked at what had gone wrong whilst sitting in the sun!!