Portrait #17 : Samantha Kerdine
Meet the ceramist Samantha Kerdine on the occasion of our collaboration!
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Samantha Kerdine opened the doors of her Parisian workshop to us! A small creative nest where our collaborative tableware collection was born. She shared with us her passion for ceramics and hypnotized us with her know-how!
We let you discover the universe of this talented artist...
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Hello Samantha, how are you? Can you briefly introduce yourself?
I've just come back from a week's holiday at my friend's house in Villa Hujja in Marrakech (@villa.hujja), so I'm doing really well!
To introduce myself, I do both graphic design and ceramics. I live in Paris, in the 18th arrondissement, where my studio is also located.
How did your passion for ceramics start?
I first took "expression through clay" classes with François Dubois, in Paris, every Thursday evening for almost two years. I appreciated these moments where I discovered a new practice and a new subject. It was a real breath of creativity in my daily life as a graphic designer. Then those two hours of practice were no longer enough for me, so I bought a kiln and installed it in my coworking space. I mixed my two activities, graphic design and ceramics. The lockdown having arrived, I needed to have a whole space dedicated to my artistic practice. So, with my friend Marion (@maliv), we found a small garage in our neighbourhood that we renovated to make our studio.
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What is the process of creating a piece of your work?
I often start my pieces from sketches, which also allows me to anticipate the technique I want to work with. If it's a plate vase for example (like the ones in our collaboration), I draw the shapes on a flat surface, and my assistant helps me assemble the finished shape. I then paint, once the piece is dry, with engobes. After a first firing, I glaze the piece with a transparent glaze and the piece is then baked a second time.
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What do you love the most about your work?
My favourite part is the interaction I have with other artists and craftspeople. It's a very caring environment! I am surrounded by women who give me their advice and support and I am always delighted to be able to support them in the problems they encounter in their practices.
How would you describe your universe in 3 words?
Good question... It's not easy to stand back from your own work! But I would say personal, free, and spontaneous.
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What motivated you to collaborate with Herbarium?
As you can see from my work, I have an attraction to drawing flowers, so working with Herbarium was an obvious choice.
How did you imagine this collection?
I imagined a pop and acidic table, like an English picnic with a pop music background.
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THE MUST-HAVE RECIPE TO ENJOY IN SAMANTHA KERDINE X HERBARIUM DISHES?
I love using bowls to eat pasta. And I'll be making my favourite recipe for pea pesto pasta in them.
WHICH FLOWERS OR HERBARIUM BOUQUET DO YOU THINK WOULD GO BEST WITH THE VASES IN OUR COLLECTION?
Of course, a dried bunch of pink dolphins!
"TO DECORATE MY FLAT AT HERBARIUM, I PUT IN MY TOTE-BAG..." YOU FINISH THE SENTENCE!
A little Krakra Amour soap and a Mikado Cool diffuser. And don't forget a gift voucher for a Cyanotype workshop with @maliv in your concept store!
ARTISTS YOU LIKE AND WANT US TO DISCOVER?
My artist and artisan friends are all very talented, there is Maliv, Jessica Lemeur, Kim Lê, Salima Zahi, Léa Maupetit, Argument Bijoux, to name a few...
RECOMMENDED ADDRESSES IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD?
Café Dose has just opened in the 18th arrondissement, and I hear their praline latte is incredible. Otherwise, for lunch, I swear by the vegetarian Banh Mi or the veggie Sandow at Licette, 34 rue Montcalm.
WHAT WAS THE LAST MUSIC YOU LISTENED TO?
Solastalgie de Catastrophe
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