Life as a craftswoman can be hard... but I do it because I love it

Ceramic designer Orla O’Rourke, who will be showing her wares at Cork Craft & Design during Cork Craft Month in August, says she is an artist first and a businesswoman second.

While this makes the Crawford graduate a talented and dedicated artist, she says there are times when she wishes she had the support of someone more business-minded.

“As a creative person, you always want to be in the studio, making things,” says Orla who works at Stable Door Pottery at the Shanagarry Design Centre in east Cork. She also has a studio in Lisgoold where she lives with her husband and daughters, Jessica (5) and Gráinne (4) on her in-laws’ farm.

Originally from Dunmanway, Orla recalls that she didn’t know what course or career to choose while at secondary school.

“It was either ceramics or working with small animals or horses. I was offered a job as a veterinary nurse and I was also given a place at agricultural college.

“My career guidance teacher said that the ceramics course at Crawford was the hardest thing points-wise (of Orla’s choices) but that I should give it a go and change afterwards if I didn’t like it. I only took up art at school in fifth year. I had done woodwork before then. I like making things with my hands.”

The interest in animals came from Orla’s father. A builder by trade, he always kept horses.

“We were big into carriage driving and competed in local agricultural shows. I’m doing some commissioned pieces at the moment for end-of-year presentations for Carriage Driving Ireland. I also grew up with dogs; I have four bulldogs. They’re very gentle. They don’t have the vicious side of pit bulls or bull terriers. They’re slobs and adore my kids.”

Orla’s interest in horses has had an influence on her creative work.

“We would go to point-to-point meetings and I’d take a few pictures and then make sculptural work such as horses’ heads and clay wall hangings of horses.”

While studying ceramics, Orla gained experience in sculptural work and glaze techniques. During her final year at the Crawford, she worked part-time with an Australian potter who taught her all about slab work and how to manipulate clay in a different way.

She enjoyed the work and once she finished college in 2003, Orla set herself up as a ceramic designer. Her father converted sheds and a few stables at home into a big studio space. That’s where the name of her business comes from.

“I happily worked there for many years but when the downturn in the economy happened around 2008, everything ground to a halt for me and my business. I am quite a shy, reserved person so I said to myself, what will I do now? Will I just quit and take a different path, or take a gamble and move lock, stock and barrel and give my love of working with clay another go? I decided to take the plunge and re-locate my business to the renowned home of pottery production in Shanagarry.”

It took a while to build up the business again. Orla developed her range, functional yet decorative ceramics for the kitchen and the home.

“It was a great success. My work evolved using bright colours influenced by the wonderful berries that grow on the wild Irish hedges and in country gardens. I incorporate hessian into each piece to give a rustic feel. This mirrors my love of this country and animals. I also branched out into making little ceramics for frames. These can be personalised too for that special gift occasion.

“Throughout this time in my new studio space, I fell back into sculptural work which was a real reward. But then, who knew that the world would fall to a halt when Covid hit?”

Orla had to cease work. But she says everything has a silver lining.

“The step back was good. I had a baby in June, 2020, and the time out from work was welcome.”

Now, Orla has re-evaluated her product range, cutting out some items and developing new ideas. These include tall vases that have “characterful faces”.

While Orla loves the company and inspiration of other designers in Shanagarry, she admits that running a small business in this country is full of challenges, including the high cost-of-living.

“It’s extremely hard. It makes you question, what am I doing this for? Am I a busy fool or what? But then I might get a sale which is a boost. It is stubbornness that keeps me going. It’s very unpredictable.”

From wholesale orders to packing up ceramic pieces, Orla has to do everything herself. She has a few hours of help per week from a local girl but wishes she could afford more.

Despite the downside to operating a small enterprise, Orla wants to expand her business. She finds the LEO (Local Enterprise Office) very helpful and is being mentored at the moment. Orla also sings the praises of Cork Craft & Design, which is 15 years old. This leading social enterprise represents over 110 specialist makers and artists, boasting a diverse range of over 3,000 handcrafted items, spanning from bespoke furniture to distinctive jewellery.

Would Orla encourage her daughters to pursue artistic careers?

“I wouldn’t be encouraging them too much because it’s a hard life. I’m doing it because I love it. I couldn’t see myself doing anything else.”

Unique hand-crafted products can be viewed at www.corkcraftanddesign.com with a selection also available at the Makers’ Collective Shop in Douglas Woollen Mills. For Craft Month, Orla will be giving six pottery classes. See https://www.corkcraftanddesign.com/corkcraftmonth/