Join us at Creative Pottery where artistry comes alive through hands-on experience with clay.
Welcome to Creative Pottery, where the art of working with clay comes to life! I'm Chris McLaughlin, I've always had a deep passion for pottery and the incredible ways it allows us to shape our creativity into tangible forms. Over the years, I've honed my skills and expertise in this ancient craft, and now I'm thrilled to share my knowledge and enthusiasm with you.
21/11/2024
Getting excited for Saturdays Christmas Market.
🎄✨ Christmas Comes to Omagh This Saturday! ✨🎄
Get ready for a magical day filled with festive fun! Here's what’s happening:
🎁 Christmas Market
📍 Marquee at Main Street (Kelvin Avenue)
🕚 11am - 5pm
Over 50 incredible food, art, and gift traders will be there, alongside live music from St. Eugene's Brass & Reed Band.
🎉 Special Guests visit the market at 2:30 PM
Look out for a visit from Mickey & Minnie Mouse, Deadpool, and Wolverine—a treat for all ages!
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🎅 Santa’s Grotto
📍 The Strule Arts Centre
🕛 12pm - 3pm
Meet Santa in his Grotto! 🎅 This is a FREE event, but booking is required.
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🎨 Festive Arts & Crafts
📍 The Strule Arts Centre
🕑 2pm - 4pm
Get creative with festive arts and crafts! No booking needed, and it’s completely FREE.
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📖 Festive Storytelling
📍 The Strule Arts Centre
🕝 Sessions at 2:30pm & 3:30pm
Gather for enchanting festive tales! This is a FREE event, but booking is required.
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🌟 Once Upon A Christmas! Light Switch-On Event
📍 The Court House Omagh
🕓 4pm - 5:45pm (Lights switched on at 5:30pm)
Join Buddy the Elf on his exciting trip around the world with his friends Belle, Moana, Anna, Elsa, Santa & Mrs. Claus, and enjoy festive performances from Cooley Primary School.
Come along for a day packed with holiday joy and magical moments! 🎅✨
03/11/2024
Busy day at Omagh Farmers Market, if your in town come check it out 😁
01/11/2024
It's a Double Market Weekend for Urban Market!
On Sunday we are back in Omagh at the Marquee on Kelvin Avenue for Omagh Farmer's Market with 35 fantastic local traders🥳
12pm-4pm
31/10/2024
Super excited to be in Omagh Farmers Market this Sunday at Main Street! Come say hello and check out my new work 😀
22/10/2024
Packing klin for Bisque firing getting ready for Christmas
14/10/2024
🍎Farmers' Markets coming to Enniskillen and Omagh
😀If you are a local trader interested in participating in the Farmers' Markets in Enniskillen and Omagh in November and December 2024, sign up now through our Expression of Interest.
To read more and sign up👉tinyurl.com/mttppm2s
02/10/2024
With Urban Market – I just got recognised as one of their rising fans! 🎉
02/10/2024
Really looking forward to these two events watch this space
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As a ceramicist building a number of pieces for an exhibition it usually starts with inspiration form the natural environment, I find myself in. Self-isolation has allowed me to reflect on the current Global Pandemic, which has altered the concept of my work. I have given each piece a title & theme relating to the current ever-changing situation and scenarios that have become a different kind of normal daily life.
In the grip of the present Global Pandemic where everything we took for granted is changing, it’s hard to imagine that this could ever have happen. As I stop and reflect on the effect it is having on people around the world, I realise that this is real and has affected each and every one of us, regardless of wealth, colour, creed or belief we are all in this together. Life has changed for us all, the normal shopping trip is no longer a simple task, we are taking huge a chance just to get the essentials as no one knows who has this invisible disease until you start to show symptoms and then it’s too late as it has moved on to another individual who does not know they are infected and will go on to infect others. Even if we think we are safe or don’t show any signs we need to stop and think about family and friends, a kiss, cuddle or hug could be fatal, it’s a bit like Russian roulette.
As an emerging ceramic artist, I had so many plans to start up a small business to engage the local community through workshops to allow interested people to develop new skills and socialise with like-minded others. The children’s Easter workshops were cancelled and the foreclosure of Gallery’s, craft shops and local community halls was another blow to the business, with nowhere to display the current works. The work I was in the process of creating to reflect my interpretation of the natural environment lost its meaning, but as I stepped back and reflected on the purpose of this work I realised that it was still relevant to my interpretation of the natural world and the journey we all have to make to survive this current crisis.
As originally the idea of the pieces came from my appreciation and interpretation of the natural world, the colours in our sky at different times during different seasons, to the landscapes and the environment we see arounds us. I refocused on the social situation we find ourselves in and the impact it is having on our life. Alongside the social situation we find the sky is bright and clear, the birds are singing in the gardens again now that people have time to listen.
What got me really thinking, was as a ceramic artist or any artist, creating and making work it can be a lonely place as you are usually the only person in the studio, a form of self-isolation in its self, however, to ensure an even balance to the loneliness when not working on their masterpieces. Artists are very social people they attend opening nights at galleries and shows. Networking with artists around the world via the internet/social media bring the art community closer 'within a click of a button'.
Whilst finishing off the current project taking photographs of the first piece to sell, I could see an even deeper meaning and understanding of the present time we as humans have found ourselves in.
Therefore on reflection of the Global Pandemic I have given each piece a title & theme relating to the current situations and scenarios that have become a way of our daily lives. I have used the beauty of the natural environment as the normal symbols we associate with the natural world to develop the structure and colour of each piece. These natural pieces will hopefully shine a light and bring some positivity, with the aim of lifting our spirits in these dark uncertain times.
