2020 was a year that none of us will easily forget. For me, it was a time of reflection, rumination and reckoning. Creating and destroying many things, both real and imagined. The work from this year was so different from years past, still me, with the focus on form and use but with a new outlook. That things we cherish should not just be looked at and admired from afar but tactile, comfortable and unique. in 2021, things are still “works in progress” but more refined and defined. Peace.
The teapot is one of the most difficult forms to design. The size, scale, proportions and function are all critical components to make up the whole.
My porcelain teapots with handmade cane handles are the creation of years of practice, practice, practice.
I draw some inspiration from historical porcelain. Blue and white ware from China, Japan and Korea. Even the chinoiserie of western europe. I am also attracted to the minimalist aesthetic of mid century Danish and Scandinavian functional ware.
This is my ode to all of the above.
The bowl is a universal vessel used by all cultures around the globe. These teabowls and meditation bowls were created with mindfulness and presence in mind. The fine porcelain is so delicate that one must be completely present to hold and bring into ones space. Each is unique and one of a kind but all are brilliantly translucent where form meets function.
My love of the 'process' is most apparent with the wood fired vessels. Pieces are usually have a glazed interior and bare porcelain exterior. The atmospheric high fire wood kiln shows the movement of the flame and ash and the power of the fire. Each time a wood kiln door is cracked, I am humbled.
I am a self-confessed Glaze Nerd!
I love to see the reaction of glazes and seeing the process of the making.
Sometimes we get a special love. The Copper Kiss is one of my favourite.
This series was inspired by the Kyoto Cherry Blossoms.
Years ago, the Japanese government gifted 100 cherry trees to Toronto's High Park. Each year, after the perpetually brutal Canadian winter, I await the explosion of colour and the beauty of these spring blooms.
This is my celebration of the new, new life, new season, new day.
A curated selection of works from my professional career as a working potter.
