Liesel Trautman’s irresistible new range of ceramics incorporates nature through the use of dried flowers.
Speaking of her new range of dried flower ceramics, Liesel says she has been collecting various blooms over the past year or so, choosing flowers that resonate with her for various reasons.
“I used buttercups which remind me of my childhood; forget-me-nots, because who doesn’t like them? Devil’s claw for its sculptural qualities, and lowly, everyday hydrangeas because they’re so delicate,” she explains.
After drying the flowers, Liesel has them professionally photographed to retain a three-dimensional quality. The next step is to print the flowers, in full colour, with ceramic glazes and then apply the images individually to each of her porcelain pieces.
Describing the new range, Liesel says, “It feels, to me, like a fleeting moment captured in a whimsical manner on a durable porcelain vessel – a soft flower on a hard, virtually indestructible surface.”
She explains that her use of dried flowers reflects a preserved memory of time well spent, in nature. “When people, through the ages, seemingly had more time, they dried flowers and used them in craftwork. Maybe that’s the kind of feeling and the era this range evokes,” the ceramist says.
More information: liesel.trautman@gmail.com
