Ground to Kitchen

Edition 3 Feature
Words by: Elliot Swanson 
Location: Maleny, Queensland, Australia 
Photo Credit: ©Elliot Swanson 

My name is Elliot Swanson and I’m a potter based in a small town called Maleny, in Queensland, Australia. Maleny is a country town surrounded by green rolling hills in the hinterland of the Sunshine Coast. I have been living here for most of my life, and it’s where I have started a family and kicked off my career. We live a sustainable and slow lifestyle, which I feel goes hand in hand with my work, where rustic and functional handmade tableware meets homegrown organic produce. 

The pots I make are all about functionality with a bit of character thrown in, emphasising the handmade, earthy feel of the craft. Working with clay has given me a sense of purpose and freedom in getting away from cookie-cutter tableware with no sense of soul and purpose. Often, two bowls won’t look exactly the same but will share the same purpose and each be beautiful in its own way. The feeling of clay between your fingers, and sometimes being covered in it from head to toe, is extremely rewarding and fulfilling. It still blows my mind how the simple ball of clay that you start off with can end up as a beautiful and functional piece of creative art.