INSPIRE: Denmark potter Rachel Falls-Williams inspired by colours of WA

Rachel Falls-Williams has the unique ability to emulate the natural world in her distinctive pottery. Working from her shed turned home studio, Falls-Williams incorporates the colours and textures of the environment in her art, as well as minerals and other natural materials. She is originally from Dalwallinu in the Wheatbelt but said she was drawn to the coastal environment and lifestyle of Denmark after visiting while growing up, eventually making the move in 2010. A mother of three, a farmer and former primary school teacher, Falls-Williams splits her time between the coastal scenery of Denmark with her family and her home studio in a converted shed. “Denmark has always been somewhere that we holidayed and the natural environment of the ocean and the forest was the initial attraction that has just kept us here,” Falls-Williams said. She said pottery did not come naturally to her and it took a lot of trial and error to get to where she is now, along with advice and help from fellow Denmark potter Jonathan Hook. Falls-Williams met Hook at a beach while walking with her family and Hook began mentoring her in 2021. “I just happened to bump into Jonathan Hook, a master potter who has been doing it for about 50 years,” she said. “And I was talking to him down at the beach and lamenting how terrible I was and he sort of advised that that’s all part of it, that it’s a skill you acquire over time — it doesn’t just come automatically or naturally. “We had a bit of a chat about that and then he offered for me to bring my work to the studio. “I would spend a few days a week at the studio and then I realised what a great opportunity that was to talk to someone so knowledgeable just around the corner. “Not long after I quit my teaching job and then started going up there four days a week to try to use the most of observing and asking lots of questions, and just soaking up every part of the process was amazingly generous.” Her inspiration comes from her surrounding environments, whether they be the coastal colours of Denmark or the rich reds of the Pilbara. “It’s always been the landscape and natural environment, and I think I just spend a lot of time immersed in it,” she said. “I’m curious about the materials and actually sourcing materials from the environment but also the visual aspects of textures and colours.” She has used various materials for her works, including ash from the fireplace at home or from Bent River. “There’s so many possibilities in terms of materials, like rocks, cuttlefish, and minerals for ingredients — there’s so many ways you can compose your piece with different materials,” Falls-Williams said. “I’ve done a series on greens and the colours, lights and shapes that you can see on the bottom of the ocean floor.” Hook said she was still learning new and different technical skills and approaches to the creative process behind potting. “There’s so much we have in this world to learn and understand and problem solve,” she said. “I don’t ever experience creative block; I have a journal full of ideas and things like that that will keep me going for a long time. “I still keep in touch with Jonathan fairly regularly and with the community of potters even more broadly. “It’s just a really generous set of people willing to share and help you solve problems.” Fall-Williams owns an independent pottery business from her Denmark home. Her works are available at rachelfalls.com.au.