Bob Stafford

Teacher, Sculptor & Ceramicist

Mum and Dad met at art school. So, it seems art may be in the genes as well as in my son’s, Joe.

Teaching

I started modelling pastry. I was about three or four. My mom would give me lumps of the stuff when cooking her pies and tarts. I would shape the pasty plastic sticky lumps into small animals, figures, and faces and bake’ em.

Years later I trained as a teacher specialising in ceramics and sculpture using clay this time. In 2012 after 36 years of teaching children and young people, I retired and finally got my own studio. The studio has grown into something else and started my new career as a “teacher” at The Shire Workshops studio, with my very talented son, Joe.

It is now Joe’s studio, CEO, so I can relax and do what I love to do – teach and make!

In my one and only exhibition in Tunbridge Wells with my degree pieces I was described as an up-and-coming young Artist. I still describe myself as, a resuming, up-and-coming, but now ancient artist, whose artistic ambitions were put on a slight hold, by a wonderful domestic interlude and a teaching career.

My Philosophy

In my work, I enjoy expressing myself in shapes and forms and commenting on the human condition through art. I have great fun using fantastical ideas creating effigies of creatures, beings & forms from my freed imagination.

I can realise limitless machinations of humans and creatures, just as we have done from the moment that we became sentient. Think of the tribes and stonemasons who made their “imaginings” manifest, in their art with ceremonial artifacts and in our churches and old buildings.

I believe that artistic expression is the physical communication which can be compelling, joyful, therapeutic, meaningful, and enriching; that it should be encouraged in all ages as a vital part of all our lives.

I believe that artistic, creative endeavours in all their aspects are what make our species special. Humanity gets great joy and meaning from expressing itself in many ways such as music, dance, drama, and art & crafts, using and exploring the attributes of materials and performance.

Pal Tiya

I get my enjoyment from the process of making and expressing as well as the finished product. Until now my medium of choice has been ceramic clay. However: –

Clay is a wonderful material but can’t cope well with large or long thin parts. It shrinks in the kiln and can’t cope with supporting armatures left in place. For large work, until now, we have had to use difficult materials such as fibre glass and resins.

Pal Tiya Premium is a new material, exciting in its ability to do things clay finds difficult/impossible. This opens possibilities for new configurations to explore. I am so excited by the prospects of making some stirring stuff!

Enjoy a challenge, then why not have a go!

Expression through clay

Now you don’t need pastry, you just need clay and our studio space, where you can relax, learn skills, immerse yourself in activities, use your imagination, and realise your ideas. Our studio can be a break from yourself.