Field Study II

Ceramic tiles stylised as a jigsaw of fields...

Following the success of Field Study I, I decided to challenge myself to take ceramic fields a step further by replicating a real map. I chose a map of my family's homestead in Co. Wexford and drew my own map on paper. I then cut out each field a road and placed them over a slightly dried out slab of plastic stoneware to be cut out. I then gave some tiles texture and had them bisque fired.

Once they were out of the kiln I got to glazing. To make things faster I drew up a fresh map of my pieces and assigned each one a number that corresponded to a particular glaze and oxide combination. This was particularly laborious as most tiles had three or four coats. Once out of the glaze firing, I assembled my pieces and discovered that the process would have been much simplified had a etched the tiles' numbers into their backs.

I determined that I didn't like how the pieces fit together, and played around with them until I settled on spacing each piece out on a white painted board. Upon reflection, I believe this was a good move as it made me think of Field Study II as a jigsaw of sorts, reminiscent of my own experience of trying to fit together the pieces of my own feelings and memories of home that don't quite fit together so simply since I've left Ireland. I have a feeling this is going to kickstart a new path for my practice.

This piece was chosen to be exhibited in Canterbury Environmental Collective's exhibition "Forces of Nature" in Samphire Hoe in March 2026.