?In residence?; a villa vacation in Mallorca with Charles Marlow & Bros.
A villa vacation can be a whole lot more than just sun-drenched terraces and a pool with a view; writes Andrew Forbes.
Lying in the shade of the orange trees, amongst flowering iris was Monty, a friendly white Fox Terrier that evoked thoughts of TinTin. But clearly, we?re not in Belgium. With a view of striking mountains and terraced olive groves and the scent of orange, lemon, jasmine and rose filling the air, this most certainly is the Mediterranean.
Monty?s owner, acclaimed ceramicist Maria De Haan, is telling me to slow down ? funny since the pace of life here seems mellow already, but this is advice I would be wise to follow, since I?m trying to ?throw? a clay pot on a wheel that I?m turning too fast! The dark clay is course against my hands. Here, on the sun dappled workshop terrace I feel connected to nature; and I should be inspired. But soon enough my fingers break through the raising clay, and my emerging pot swiftly falls to one side. My moment of creativity comes to a halt. My lack of patient dexterity once again confirmed.
Maria, however, is a good-humoured, relaxed and patient tutor and makes the process of learning fun and interactive. A few of her works sit on shelves on the terrace wall ? simple, sculptural ceramic pots with a texture that looks like lava. Her work also encompasses minimalist tableware and her signature smoke fired pieces. Maria collects local organic materials, such as leaves, wood and even seaweed from the Cala de Deiá, and uses it i...
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