At the moment this ceramic bicycle is just ornamental and mostly decorative but this is part of a bigger picture. In due course images like this will be blended into art panels telling stories that most of us can relate with.

As a child I recall memories; of fear - cycling my first bike, of happiness - receiving each bicycle, of loss - when my first “big” bicycle was stolen, of adventure - exploring the far away and big unknown…..

As an adult the bicycles dumped in the chanels of Amsterdam, locked and left for ever on the rails next to the chanels, rusted , discarded, damaged…will amuse me forever! Sad, in a way, that this tool with wheels that we all used to take us places, to shop, to visit loved ones,…could be forgotten and neglected at the drop of a coin.

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This client commissioned this special tile to be installed above his fireplace. He bought similar tiles for installation as inserts in between quarry tiles. We hope to feature this floor in the near future!

His first request was for a Cross but changed to using the Doves as his final choice.

These tiles will crack! Using words were quite a risk and unfortunately this is a risk the client must bear… but then again the cracks within this clay body create a character that can not be obtained with a pure commercial clay body.

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Marc & Marthe Wauters - Friends of our studio.

A long time ago, this very special coupled visited our studio. There was an immediate bond with them, their enthusiasm and appreciation for our work and their intense interest in the ceramic work we have done over the years. But what really endeared them to us was that they cared and showed compassion through all the ups and downs our studio experienced. It is always a great pleasure when they visit AND Marc always has something up his sleeve!

The first “project” was a commission to produce large serving bowls in the old Flemish style majolica ware. Then in-between commissions he would create sculptural ceramic pieces as gifts for his special friends.

The nativity scene was one of them and his Pieta another.

We have a shared fondness for the Kalahari, and here the San are a great inspiration to his, making a few sculptures of the San he met and spoke to.

Another commission was sauerkraut containers for another passionate friend of his, Dr. Marco Knappe who wanted to ferment his own cabbage according to an old family recipe in hand thrown containers fashioned according to a traditional design. If the fermenting ever worked in our warm climes is not known, this family is still alive and kicking so I would expect the process to have been highly successful!

At this moment he is receiving lessons throwing on a potters wheel, and we hope to soon see all these new creations. I am sure that some of these will be used to store his home ground chillies in, or some of his homebrewed grappa, Wahoo!

Marc and Marthe we love you, and hope to see you soon!

Marc please ask your daughter to comment and post a photo or two of you cycling to the studio.

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18 years ago Gillian Greer designed this modern set, a real classic that has not dated at all. The clients who were so fortunate to acquire these sets are still as passionate using it today as the first day they saw it. We used to carry stock in these ranges but presently we only focus on commissioned and/or customized orders.

Gillian received this multi coloured commission the other day. The client envied a family member’s set for years and her husband went through the motions spoiling her with a set of her own. Feeling nostalgic about all these old ranges I felt a post would revive some memories while viewing some of these images.

The design is exuberant, boiling over with life’s positive energies. It demands to be used and shared with happy get-togethers. If you own any of our sets, be so kind to send us some images of you and the family or friends, engaged in lively discussion around our plates or mugs!

These patterns were customized in many ways, patterns were painted with a range of blues, others with browns but a combination of colours were the most glamorous.

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Recently I read that trend watcher Li Edelkoort has predicted that people will create their own ‘museum houses’. These most avant-garde requirements, resulted in many professional architects, interior designers and individuals designing more individualized spaces and using tiles to fully portray the character of the homes in which the client can reconnect.

Southern Art Ceramic Design has adapted their output to create unique ceramic tiles and art that can be touched, seen and felt because it has shape, colour, gloss and volume, properties that are undoubtedly inherent to ceramic as opposed to other materials that simply cannot compete.

The ascendancy of chain store culture and global manufacturing has left us dressing, furnishing, and decorating alike. We are encouraged to be consumers, not producers, of our own culture. Our ties to the local and human sources of our goods have been eroded and possibly even lost. Buying handmade helps us reconnect and to express our identity and uniqueness. We will increasingly start living in individualized structures and among all kind of collections. Our collections of, for instance ceramic art, can make our house and ourselves stand out from the crowd. Instead of mass production, our clients want unique and hard to find objects.

The client using handmade tiles feels the satisfaction of supporting an artist or crafter directly, and receives a product, e.g. A custom tile panel behind the AGA, that is one-of-a-kind, and made with care and attention that can be seen and touched. As is the result of the absence of skill and craftsmanship in the world of large-scale manufacturing, one of a kind hand made items are a rare commodity.

Supporting small handmade design studios will make you happier in that you strike a small blow to the accumulating environmental effects of mass production, which are the major cause of global warming and the poisoning of our planet!

Visit http://www.mytile.co.za/ for some examples to get you inspired! The way in which you can assimilate myTILE into your individualized environment will be covered with all the different design elements, re. Colour, texture, matt or gloss, volume, shape, decorative design elements, etc

myTILE at Southern Art Ceramic Design is South Africa’s top ceramic tile design studio.

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 WE gave this mug as a gift, to our babysitter Heidi; who tends our animals when we are fortunate enough to travel. The hand painted image by Gillian is of Mei-Ling our Siamese, who will seldom allow you to cuddle her, demanding this only at a time that suits her, and not necessarily always from us! The spirit of something special is thus captured forever through the medium of ceramics, giving lasting joy to the beholder.

Helé painted this mug, of Zeus, a Weimmeraner, as a birthday gift for Anita, a very dear friend of ours. She had to part with her beloved dog, but hopefully this mug will be able to fill a little of the empty space he left, while Anita can but just imagine how Zeus now enjoys living on a farm, running around and being adored by his new owner.

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It is with great sadness that we decided to give Tess, our beloved Bouvier and dear companion, wings on the 14^th of February. Tess came to us as a 5 weeks old puppy over 11 years ago. She was an immediate hit, and was loved by all, having a wonderful temperament and soft nature.

We will miss Tess terribly. She leaves a huge gap in our hearts and lives.

As an artist, Gillian captured some memories, and the pain, using the ceramic medium.

One naturally tends to leave this visual expression to a time, when one feels the need to recall.

But capturing the character of ones pets, like the drawing by Stefan, my 8 years old nephew, of our Siamese, Mei-ling, brings a smile to ones face, even though she is still tormenting us with her demanding personality!

I feel for all who have experienced the severe void left after the departure of a dear companion, but through committing ones favourite or treasured memories to the clay medium they will live forever. Remember the special, alive and kicking companions around us too, in this way.

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  This is my favourite ceramic mug, it is YELLOW and it makes me MELLOW. Gillian painted Mei-Ling on it and as you can see “The Cat” is resting, but ears pricked, acutely aware of all goings and happenings in and around our studio!  I find mugs like mine, comforting and reassuring. Cupped in my hands, feeling the warmth and seeing those ears all alert, gives me a sense of worth and belonging, a real feel good moment, where deadlines and other worries belong to another time!

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