ABOUT US
Nathalie Dubois Bardoux and Sophie Lamare have been friends since childhood. After having traced parallel paths in the women's press, they found each other to give life to their common passion, ceramics. With a CAP in their pockets, they set up their workshop in a courtyard in the rue de Bourgogne, in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, and embarked on the adventure: "LES POTIÈRES SONT DANS LA COUR".
They like to turn, model and shape the earth. Their universe is whimsical, facetious, poetic and draws its inspiration from nature, animals and the elements.
They create, each one, very personal pieces which join in the funny and form joyful and playful collections.
Each creation is a discovery, the result of a joint consultation in a search for aestheticism and simplicity.
Their motto: to enjoy themselves and to open their imagination to others.
What drives you to create?
Sophie: The journey. Starting with raw clay and shaping it with my fingers, then painting it. I like to sculpt characters, whether they are real or imaginary.
Nathalie : The freedom, the richness of the material that offers multiple possibilities of expression. I am inspired by nature, art, architecture, design, through the images I collect and the photos I take during trips, exhibitions, walks...
What is your creative process?
Sophie: My inspiration comes from my many travels, my visual quests. When I sculpt a dog portrait, my eyes and my hands work in harmony to find an emotional space and to get as close as possible to the dog's expression. It is an emotional quest.
Nathalie: I make little sketches of intent. When an idea comes to me, I quickly develop it into a prototype because it is the earth that guides me. Often the first idea is transformed according to my intuition. I am not rigid, I can easily deviate.
What are your favorite steps?
Sophie: I love all the stages that follow one another. It's a creative adventure from the ball of clay to the always hazardous and anxious exit of the oven.
Nathalie: I love the sensuality of the contact with clay, whether it be in throwing or modeling. Turning brings me a lot of pleasure. Mastering the clay driven by the centrifugal force, feeling it discipline itself under your hands and transform into the chosen shape, it is a magical moment. But above all I like to mix techniques, throwing and modeling. Decorating my pieces brings me closer to the pleasure of painting.