Page 28 - Waterfall City Issue 3 March 2024

Waterfall City Design & Décor

IT’S ALL IN A TILE

Meet the new team of ceramic artists contributing to SA’s

renowned design reputation.

The history
Five years ago, Sharon and Ryan
Kensley embarked on a brand-new “The secret is to never look back
journey of creating tiles. It began at your designs.
when their good friends decided to
immigrate to America and sell their Just keep moving forward.”
handmade tile business, Renwick Tiles.

With Sharon and Ryan already moulding, clay mixes, and such, What sets Akashic apart
being creators within the ceramics that is something that you need to from the rest?
industry, this was the next step of be taught the basics of. After that, That’s a hard one, as there are so
their journey, and everything fell through trial and error and years many beautiful tiles out there. Our
into place. “It was more of a handing of experimenting, you will learn tiles are not for everyone. They are
down.” They had already shared to fine-tune your skills. There is very elaborate and over the top in
similar energy as the previous always something new to learn. With some respects, but we try to push the
owners. Still, once they started to ceramics, it’s a lifetime of learning. boundaries within the tile medium.
create their own designs and found We have been so lucky that the design
their mojo, Renwick Tiles was reborn Time and care industry has liked our ideas and
as Akashic Tiles. It’s hard to say how long it takes designs. I always think of that saying:
to create our tiles as we have so “Create what sets your heart on fire,
“From the moment we began many designs, and some are far and it will illuminate the path ahead.”
creating tiles, it felt like something more complex than others. To put
so natural, like we were made to be it into perspective, we work on an Design inspiration
doing this.” From then on, they have eight-week lead time. There always We find it everywhere! The one thing
tapped into the understanding and has to be room for unforeseen we try to do is to follow our inspiration
formula of making tiles and patterns circumstances, accidents or errors. and instincts, which are forever
that just flow and now have an changing. The secret is to never
internationally revered business. If something goes wrong in the kiln, look back at your designs. Just keep
we might have to remake the order, moving forward.
Chatting with Sharon and Ryan about so giving ourselves enough time is
Akashic and the art of tile making. very important when working on Colour profiles
a delicate process. You can’t rush We can glaze any of our designs in any
The process anything with ceramics because the colour choice. Sometimes a client will
To produce a tile, you must create universe will teach you a lesson very want to match a new colour, or hue
the original artwork out of clay. You quickly. of their choice. I’m often blown away
then make a cavity mould from that by how incredible their colour choices
piece and a silicone master. From that Teamwork makes the dream are. See, inspiration is everywhere.
master, you can start building more work
plaster moulds to produce the tiles in All the people at Akashic Tiles Homebase
numbers. Once the tile is dry, sanded have become our family. We are so We are based in Knysna, which is
and cleaned, you glaze it with a close; it feels like we have past life the best place ever. Born and bred!
colour. Lastly, you fire it to the correct connections. We genuinely love The energy of the forest and nature
temperature, and voila, you have each other and the work we do. We definitely helps as it is so beautiful. It
made your tile. have also learnt that it’s not about always makes me so happy to think
chasing achievements; it’s about that we are a studio in little Knysna but
The training being present every day and finding can be as big as the world. Most of our
No training is needed when creating joy in the people around you. We work goes out of Knysna and all-around
a good tile design. However, believe this energy of love is felt in South Africa and abroad, but we hardly
when it comes to glazing, firing, our products. ever leave Bokmakierie Street.

26 Waterfall City Issue 3 2024