Sam Lucas

MEET THE MAKER

My name is Sam Lucas and I am based in Cheltenham,Gloucestershire and I am an emerging artist. I have been working as an educator/technician in the art and ceramics department of a Specialist College for young people with complex needs for over 20 years and it 2018 graduated with an MA in ceramics with the aim of focussing more on my own creative practice.I am an artist in clay creating ambiguous figurative sculptures. I am predominantly an hand builder but i have expanded my ceramics knowledge over the years and have an array of ceramic skills and techniques to draw from.

WHAT ARE YOUR FEEDBACKS?

The whole package of training was quite demanding and very high quality, but to be honest the structure throughout the lockdown period was a saving grace.There was a real diversity of makers we were all at different stages of our business, but there was something for everyone. I found the presenting yourself sessions the most useful. Emily was a fantastic Speech and language Therapist and helped everyone learn techniques to present themselves in a more professional way.

The programme has helped me to position myself in the creative arena. Before I embarked on the programme I was unsure whether I wanted to become more of an iterative maker selling smaller pieces to Galleries but I feel more confident that I would like to create project work responding to briefs with other organisations, museums and groups for installation.

FIVE THINGS YOU’LL BRING WITH YOU FROM THE EXPERIENCE:

• Always have integrity in your work and do not be swayed to follow trends.
• Position yourself where you feel comfortable, not where someone else thinks you should be in the art/craft world, things are ever-changing.
• Breathing exercises help with focus and concentration when presenting your work.
• There are many different ways to run a business, not one size fits all.
• You don’t have to shout to be heard.