" My pieces are unique, entirely handmade with the desire to use no tools, just the clay, my hands, and the fire. "
Valérie Cachat - scrub
GUM
Ceramicist, Chambéry (73)
Valérie tells us how it became obvious to her to bring the material into her daily professional life.
Tell us your story, how did you find your calling?
After studying art and training in graphic design, the desire to move toward work rooted in physical materials, somewhere between art and craftsmanship, became essential.
How would you describe your style and artistic approach in a few words?
Soft, organic shapes with a natural finish. I am doing a lot of research that is leading me toward a new facet of my work, one that is more graphic and colorful thanks to the process of screen printing on clay.
What themes or subjects inspire you the most in your work?
Nature, architecture, the use of color by certain artists such as Bonnard, Matisse, or Rothko for example, always with a touch of humor.
How do you work?
I am lucky to have a large studio in the heart of the city, where I can make and fire my work on-site. I love working with French stoneware that has a high grog content. Raku is also a large part of my work; I love the graphic quality of smoked black and white enamel. My pieces are unique, entirely handmade with the desire to use no tools, just clay, hands, and fire.
Do you have a particular technique or specific expertise? Without revealing all your secrets, have you developed your own methods and techniques?
I am currently developing a technique that combines my passion for printed, graphic, and pop art works with pottery. Screen-printed ceramic pieces will soon be available on the site...
Tell us about your daily life, your constraints, your joys, your successes…
I divide my time between working in the studio and essential moments with my students; nothing is more important to me than transmission and exchange.
A message to convey, anything else you would like to share?
It takes years to rediscover the innocence of the first time.