Ellen van der Woude
Each of my creations is highly individualised. Countless hours of contemplating and working the material forges a special kind of connection with a piece. Spiritual, deep routed & ‘zen-like’, not unlike meditation.
We are living in a time defined by the delusion that everything revolves around growth, speed and availability, endangering the notions of authenticity and individual identity. Technological progress is taking place at such a rapid pace it begs the question; can the human brain keep up?
Ceramics on the contrary demands patience, slowing down and concentration, which is why I find the material so interesting. Creating something with your hands is so rewarding, and it’s a proven fact that it makes you more connected with your emotions, in turn helping you deal with problems and feelings.
As an artist I hope that those who choose to connect with my work can experience a degree of the feelings of quiet, calm and timelessness that occur to me during its creation.
– Ellen van der Woude
My creative process is all about connecting with nature, seeking out the sources of harmony and balance, and reflecting them in my work. It’s inspiring to see how all life forms have similar qualities and are all connected. I aim to bring this into my sculptures by adding movement, transforming them from static ceramics into storytellers with flowing lines and dynamic shapes. Each form is meant to breathe, each curve to speak, capturing the illusion of life within the stillness.
As I start a new piece, there is never a fixed idea in mind. It all comes together in the creative process. I take some clay, work it, observe it and let it guide me. As I shape it, a vision starts to unfold itself, and slowly, the form reveals itself. The clay has its own voice, and my hands act as interpreters. The sculpture guides my senses, showing me how its details and structure should evolve.
Creation is subject to changes in my feelings and emotions that I try to capture in my work. Often, it is easier to express them intuitively in clay rather than in words. This results in a shape representing my emotions, my unconsciousness and my consciousness.
Creativity is the central element of my life; as a child, I was surrounded by an abundance of materials that enabled me to discover various ways of expression - paper, pencils, paint. When I was introduced to clay some twenty years ago, its capability for boundless expression fascinated me instantly and was unmatched by any other material I had previously worked with. What followed was an ongoing journey of exploration and research that fuels my ever-growing passion for ceramics.
A material so malleable to its maker, it took many years to understand its behaviour. Initially from clay to later on porcelain, I refined my skills to develop my own techniques and tricks. Mastership and finesse come after years of research, experimentation, taking risks, successes and failures, mental and physical investment. It’s an endless process, an eternal quest to perfection in which still every day I am learning. The great plasticity of clay allows me to create sculptures, each a unique, delicate and imaginative piece.
