Influenced by the simplicity of Scandinavian design and inspired by the melancholy, darkness and romance of Swedish fairytales, Tamara Rookes creates a diverse range of ceramic sculptures, vessels and beads from her home studio in Christchurch.
Born in Gothenburg to a Swedish mother and New Zealand father, Rookes credits her artistic family with instilling a deep love of art. From a young age, much time was spent visiting galleries and discussing artwork and artists.
“My mother always had a great appreciation for handmade and beautiful objects. Our home was filled with ceramics, art, books and music.”
At the age of 17, Rookes visited her New Zealand family for the first time and eventually settled here with her husband. In 2000, a career in fashion beckoned and Rookes enrolled in a Diploma in Fashion Design and Technology.
Shortly after graduating, her first child, Leon, was born and for a while Rookes juggled motherhood with working part-time at a high-end boutique and running a children’s-wear label. However, her interest in fashion faded slightly over the years, and she began to feel somewhat detached to the industry with three you children in tow.
Ever the creative, it wasn’t long before Rookes stumbled into her next artistic venture, and began attending a pottery night class.
“I had not touched clay since I was 11, but it was an instant love affair. I was very lucky to be taught by the very talented Tatyanna Meharry.”
Two-and-a-half years of night classes gave Rookes the foundation that she required to begin working from home, and joining the Halswell Pottery group meant that she could do her own firing with the club’s kilns. Being a part of a group with many experienced members, all of whom were generous with their knowledge, was valuable to someone just starting out.
It wasn’t long before a commission to make plates for the Waipara Winery, Black Estate, required Rookes to purchase more of her own equipment. Now completely self-sufficient, Rookes enjoys the solitude of working from home and finds Instagram to be an indispensable avenue for networking with other creatives and sharing her works.
Born in Gothenburg to a Swedish mother and New Zealand father, Rookes credits her artistic family with instilling a deep love of art. From a young age, much time was spent visiting galleries and discussing artwork and artists.
“My mother always had a great appreciation for handmade and beautiful objects. Our home was filled with ceramics, art, books and music.”
At the age of 17, Rookes visited her New Zealand family for the first time and eventually settled here with her husband. In 2000, a career in fashion beckoned and Rookes enrolled in a Diploma in Fashion Design and Technology.
Shortly after graduating, her first child, Leon, was born and for a while Rookes juggled motherhood with working part-time at a high-end boutique and running a children’s-wear label. However, her interest in fashion faded slightly over the years, and she began to feel somewhat detached to the industry with three you children in tow.
Ever the creative, it wasn’t long before Rookes stumbled into her next artistic venture, and began attending a pottery night class.
“I had not touched clay since I was 11, but it was an instant love affair. I was very lucky to be taught by the very talented Tatyanna Meharry.”
Two-and-a-half years of night classes gave Rookes the foundation that she required to begin working from home, and joining the Halswell Pottery group meant that she could do her own firing with the club’s kilns. Being a part of a group with many experienced members, all of whom were generous with their knowledge, was valuable to someone just starting out.
It wasn’t long before a commission to make plates for the Waipara Winery, Black Estate, required Rookes to purchase more of her own equipment. Now completely self-sufficient, Rookes enjoys the solitude of working from home and finds Instagram to be an indispensable avenue for networking with other creatives and sharing her works.
Instagram has been great in so many ways; I very much enjoy the photography and communicating my story as it reads.”
Rookes’ work is varied in both form and method. Her sculptures, which are mainly busts of women, are made on a small scale allowing them to be displayed in small environments. Her vessels for flowers and houseplants incorporate a sculptural element and sometimes use sand, metals and stones to achieve an organic feel.
A range of ceramic beads has been an ongoing project, and allows Rookes to explore her extensive range of glazes, all made at home from raw materials.
“I love working with clay. To me, it is the most diverse medium and allows me to explore so many ways of making, using colour and texture. I can make utilitarian pieces with an aesthetic beauty or I can make pieces only for display, and to me these pieces are equally important. The most wonderful objects are the loved and used ones.”
Follow Rookes on Instagram to see more of her ceramic work.
A range of ceramic beads has been an ongoing project, and allows Rookes to explore her extensive range of glazes, all made at home from raw materials.
“I love working with clay. To me, it is the most diverse medium and allows me to explore so many ways of making, using colour and texture. I can make utilitarian pieces with an aesthetic beauty or I can make pieces only for display, and to me these pieces are equally important. The most wonderful objects are the loved and used ones.”
Follow Rookes on Instagram to see more of her ceramic work.
If you liked this story, you might also enjoy...
