The Art of Unique Beautiful Pottery

June 22nd, 2010 | No Comments

Jack Olive writes;

BEAUTIFUL ABSTRACT DESIGN TEA POT

BEAUTIFUL ABSTRACT DESIGN TEA POT

 Growing up in Thunder Bay, Ontario in the 40′s and 50′s, I spend much of my time drawing, painting and photographing the images around me.

 I registered for drawing and graphic design instead, and when the instructor for ceramics called out the door of the pottery studio that he now had an opening for me, I found my life’s work.

BEAUTIFUL APPLE DESIGN CASSEROLE

BEAUTIFUL APPLE DESIGN CASSEROLE

In 1971 I moved to Vancouver and became a founding member and director of the Vancouver Clayworks Society, a 12-member cooperative ceramics studio.

BEAUTIFUL APPLE DESIGN CAPPUCHINO BOWL

BEAUTIFUL APPLE DESIGN CAPPUCHINO BOWL

In this creative atmosphere I worked with other members of the group to develop methods of applying imagery through drawing, painting and photographic images to ceramic sculpture and pottery.

PEARS DESIGN PITCHER

PEARS DESIGN PITCHER

 

The optical effect of stretching graphic images around a circular from fascinates me. Peripheral vision bends what the observer sees at the edges. Ceramic glazes with their richness and capacity for layering and depth of imagery, give the opportunity to create a mirror of that peripheral view as images bend around the surface of a pot.

BEAUTIFUL PEARS DESIGN SERVING BOWL

BEAUTIFUL PEARS DESIGN SERVING BOWL

My work in clay is both functional and decorative. I work with wheel thrown and slab built form, all fired to cone 1 with over and under glazes. All pieces are food safe and the wheel thrown ones are oven and microwave proof. I have formulated my clay and glazes to fit with a slight compression that prevents crazing, and creates a very durable and chip resistant surface.

ORIGINAL PEAR DESIGN JAR

ORIGINAL PEAR DESIGN JAR

I now work out of my own studio on the beautiful Sunshine Coast of British Columbia and you can see my outstandingly good value work at Side Street Studio, a long established Victoria based arts & crafts studio and web store – www.sidestreetstudio.com

 

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