Sarah Wormald
Figure 1. Meet the Maker: Sarah Wormald pictured in her back garden.
Have you always lived in Port Lincoln?
After visiting Port Lincoln on a trip, Sarah and her Husband thought “we have to come back and move here”. Coming from the full-time career-driven, city living culture of Adelaide, the pair wanted to show their children a different lifestyle. Sarah and her family moved to Port Lincoln at the end of 2017.
How did you start pottery?
Sarah always had an inkling she would enjoy pottery, so ventured to Adelaide to partake in some classes. On return to Port Lincoln, she began searching for a kiln where she could fire her creations. Fellow creative, Julie Aldridge had recently purchased a kiln at this time and so sprung a friendship between Julie and Sarah.
What inspires your creations?
Each of Sarah’s pieces is inspired by the beautiful Eyre Peninsula coast and is uniquely designed and handmade. One mug takes six weeks from start to finish, each thoughtfully crafted, each material choice intentional. There are many different clays and Sarah picks with sensory feel in mind. For example, she might use a gritty clay that emulates the look and feel of sand so that holding it stirs thoughts of being at the beach. Sarah comments potting itself is mindful… feeling the thickness of the walls, the alignment, the symmetry… is all sensory. Sarah’s mugs and the process of their creation carry a peaceful energy… not dissimilar to the simple joy of sipping a mug of tea.
Could you tell us about the glazing process?
The glazing process refers to a highly variable set of chemical reactions that take place between interacting materials. Glazes react differently according to the type of clay that is used, temperatures, firings… through trial and reflection Sarah is learning to refine the art of achieving her desired result, and now has go-to “recipes” which help her to achieve consistency in a series of mugs.
The light coloured glaze in Figure 2 is inspired by Squeaky Beach on Boston Island and its crystal clear, pristine aquamarine waters. Figure 3 shows Sarah’s favourite deep blue glaze consisting of six layers of three different glazes.
Figure 2. Mug inspired by Squeaky Beach on Boston Island.
Figure 3. Sarah’s Personal Favourite Deep Blue Glaze Mug.
What does pottery mean to you?
Pottery is a creative and therapeutic outlet for Sarah which has helped her to establish a more balanced work/life and lifestyle.
Sarah is deeply passionate. Dreaming about pots keeps her awake at night, she thinks about throwing clay while she is at work and has a sense that she is “missing out” when she is not potting. Fundamentally, potting presents a challenge for Sarah, enabling her to enter that mindful state of flow where four hours pass in a blink.
Do you offer classes?
Recently, Sarah has begun passing on the joy of potting and her knowledge by taking on a teaching role. Sarah’s studio space is equipped with six pottery wheels, seven if you include her own, and here she leads beginners wheel throwing classes. Therein, she models the basic techniques of pottery and aids students to create either a bowl, vase or tumbler shape of their choosing.
What is your dream project?
Sarah is a minimalist at heart. Her list of dream projects is long but refined to functional pottery. She loves the idea of things that will be used for a long time… think serving dishes and garden items.
We can’t wait to see what else Sarah creates, and will happily sip our tea from one of her lovingly crafted mugs while we watch her ever-evolving and experimental pottery practice unfold.