David Read Archives — Fiona's Favourites

It often amazes me how out of things seemingly unsightly, dull and ugly, beauty emerges. I have mentioned a spot we often visit and which is home not just to a fabulous spot for eating lunch, but is also the working gallery and home to a glassblower and his artist wife.

Kettle_Barn_2016 — Outside his barn studio, hangs this copper kettle

An artist’s place of work is one of contrasts: apparently untidy, seemingly uninspiring, but very organised.

ToolsOfTrade1_2016 — The “rowing” chair on which the artist sits and works with the molten glass, painstakingly forming it into the shape it ought to be

Tools_Rods_2016 — The long, metal rods resting in the water

GlassFurnace_2016 — One of three furnaces

Glass_waste_2016 — The glass that falls off as they work. This tray is on the floor next to the chair, three photos up.

On one of our recent visits, we had the privilege of watching the master and his team at work. These are just three examples:

DavidReade_OrangeBowl_2016 — Outside the barn door, in the elements

DavidReade_BlueVase_2016 — In a deep window

DavideReade_GreenBowl_2016 — On a glass shelf

A word about the photos of the interior of barn

Visitors to the barn are not permitted far into the barn where David Reade and his team work, so all of these photographs were taken from a distance, and using the quite limited zoom of my camera. I was struck by the dominance of black, white and grey in that space, in contrast with the colours that eventually emerge. Consequently, I thought that those photographs would be and interesting entry into Cee’s Black and White Photo Challenge.

I will share more of David Reade and his team at work in another post.

Post Script

Having entered this challenge, I was delighted that Fiona’s Favourites and this post was selected as one of Cee’s featured bloggers.

Tag: David Read

From drab, dull and mostly grey to astonishing colour

A word about the photos of the interior of barn

Post Script