PLAYFUL ART – Ceramics with Sonya Warscher

We explore Sonya’s process into modern pottery for playful humans.

Sonya, can you share a bit about yourself, where you live, your background?

My name is Sonya, I’m 38 years old and I live in Southport, right near the sea. Although I was born in England I have Austrian nationality. All of my family live in Austria, apart from my mum, mostly in the beautiful mountainous region of Osttirol. I am really proud of my Austrian roots and I make sure I go once a year, staying on my uncle's farm in the tiny village of Iselsberg. I spend most of my time there hiking up the mountains, gazing at the Dolomites, talking to the animals on the farm and eating Sacher Torte.

What lead you to work with ceramics and start your business Sonraclay?

After graduating in 2004 with a Degree in Graphic Art and Design, specialising in stop-frame animation, I decided to travel around Japan. I fell in love with the ceramics that I saw and decided to take day classes on my return. I joined Southport Ceramic Studio, which has since moved and has become Baltic Clay in Liverpool. I began by making simple vessels, but it wasn't long before each one of those vessels had a face. 

The name sonraclay comes from the nickname that I was given by two separate people, one at art school and one at University. Both people named me sonra after the villain in Thundercats, which I found very funny.

Your personality certainly shines through your work. Can you tell us what inspires you?

Sonraclay is an ever expanding collection of colourful, smiley faced ceramic pieces, which are inspired by British, Japanese and Scandinavian Mid Century potters. I am outdoors as much as I possibly can be, whether it be dog walking, at my allotment or venturing in the wilderness. The nature I encounter and the people that I meet, inspire my work. 

Sonya and her faithful dog Luna

What would you say is the favourite aspect of your work?

I love picking up the clay and moulding it into whatever springs to mind. I draw a rough sketch before making some pieces, but usually the piece just evolves. The same goes for the items that I throw on the wheel. I love opening the kiln after a bisque firing to see that everything has survived. I make sure that I allow all items to dry out naturally and as slowly as possible to avoid explosions.

Individually hand painted

I also absolutely love selling at events and get so much joy from chatting to customers about my work. I have received such kind words over the years, which really do mean the world to me and have made lots of lovely friends along the way. I must admit that I still find glazing to be a bitter sweet experience, with the unreliability of clay and glaze and their reactions with heat always at work. 

Wunderlang has commissioned Warscher to create a set of unique pins, available through our webshop.