The Journal of Australian Ceramics Vol 51 No 3 November 2012
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across the Derwent River; the leaves that fall on the forest floor; or, in a series he called 'In the Long<br />
Grass with Claudia Rose', a view <strong>of</strong> life as seen by his two-year-old grand-daughter. " What affects me<br />
is a local force, a local presence, " says Blakebrough, " but also, it's about the line; it's what a shipwright<br />
might call fair - creating something t he eye can explore that has some style and elegance to it. I don't<br />
mind it being sophisticated; it's a lot <strong>of</strong> things that wood-fired ceramics aren't, and I'm happy and<br />
relaxed and comfortable w ith that. "<br />
Along with his environment, Blakebrough credits poetry, certain lines <strong>of</strong> poetry, as his inspiration. He<br />
quotes poet and friend Bob Brissenden's line: 'looking down through depths <strong>of</strong> air: written about the<br />
view <strong>of</strong> Hobart from Mount Wellington above, and says, "I find myself being dragged along emotionally<br />
by such a statement. " He also relates the idea that poetry can contain so much pr<strong>of</strong>undity so succinctly<br />
to his own creative practice.<br />
"I'm looking for an elegance {using] a sophisticated material that's beautiful to the touch, and touch is<br />
really important. It doesn't happen easily. It gets harder, and the care, and the attention to detail, is hugely<br />
demanding. And you need long periods <strong>of</strong> quiet contemplative time to put it together. Certainly that's the<br />
way the poets do it. <strong>The</strong>y're able to focus and condense stuff into a few w ords. It's like that wonderful line<br />
in Shakespeare about being bounded by a nutshell but to count yourself a creature <strong>of</strong> infinite space ... just<br />
to count yourself a creature <strong>of</strong> infinite space ... phew .. ."<br />
<strong>The</strong> words don't come, but Blakebrough continues to quietly create.<br />
Photographer: Anthony Browell<br />
1 Grace Cochrane. 'ResIdencies and Research,' In It>S Blakebrough, a Berl Gallery Monograph, Ben Gallery Hobart. Tasmania 2010. pp.35-36<br />
Further Reading: Les B/akebrough: <strong>Ceramics</strong> by Jonathan Holmes, Craftsman House, 2005,<br />
written as part <strong>of</strong> Object: <strong>Australian</strong> Centre for Craft and Design'S 'Living Treasures' series,<br />
Also Les B/akebrough, a Bett Gallery Monograph, 2010, which contains insightful essays on<br />
Blakebrough's life and work by Patsy Hely and Grace Cochrane.<br />
THE JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIAN CERAMICS NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong> 21
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