Colour and Ceramics

Bob Acton shares his conversation with the Canadian ceramic artist Janet Macpherson. She began studying ceramics at Sheridan College, in Toronto, ON Canada and for six years operated a studio practice making functional ceramics, participating in exhibitions, and selling her work at various Toronto galleries. In 2008 she began her MFA in ceramics at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio where she explored a more figurative approach to ceramics. Janet held an artist-in-residence/faculty position at Sheridan College in the 2012 Fall Semester, and was an artist in residence at the Harbourfront Centre in Toronto from 2011 - 2014. In 2013 she was the recipient of the Winifred Shantz Award for Ceramics, given by Clay and Glass Gallery in Waterloo, Ontario, and in 2014 she was artist in residence at the Zentrum Fur Keramik in Berlin, Germany.

Jennifer's work explores the complicated relationship humans have with their physical bodies. My work explores this idea, specifically the denial of this physicality that was prevalent in my Catholic upbringing, while simultaneously asserting the body’s messy and powerful presence. This work is influenced by the history of Christianity, martyrdom, and the monstrous. Like the fragmentation of the martyred body, the monstrous body exhibits dissolution of parts, and shows in its disquieting form, hybridization, lack and excess.

You can find Jennifer at her website here: https://www.janetmacpherson.com/ and on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/janetmacpherson/

Welcome to this episode with Russell Kingston from Devonshire in England. His roots are in North Devon where everyday medieval pots from that region drew him to this work. His pots are wheel thrown and slab built. Pots are to be used, so forms are simple and robust. Rims are rolled for strength and to mirror the chunky ring at the bottom; which is used for slipping and glazing. Handles are pulled from the pot as if they have grown there. Slip is dipped, poured, brushed, trailed and splashed with animated movements. Colour is achieved using oxides in slips. Pots are then fired in a large homemade gas kiln in oxidation to 1100c or so.

You can find Russell on his website here: https://www.russellkingstonceramics.co.uk/ and on his Instagram page here https://www.instagram.com/russellkingstonceramics/

This is a brief interview of Rick Rubin, author of The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Jay Shetty. Rick's written a fantastic book on creativity and his thoughts in this clip can be of value to all creative. I hope you enjoy it.

You can find Rick in every streaming service such as YouTube and you can find his book here https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/717356/the-creative-act-by-rick-rubin/9780593652886

You can find Jay Shetty here: https://www.jayshetty.me/

Dive into the captivating world of ceramics with UK's Georgie Gardiner!

Sip your favourite brew while listening to a delightful dialogue between host Bob Acton @bobacton and our dazzling guest, Georgie @georgieceramics. Get an insider's look at her artistic process as she crafts her eye-catching surface designs that keep inspiring us all.

Don't miss the chance to see creativity in action! Join us today on the show.

Georgie also has a video on YouTube presented by Ceramic Review Masterclass @ceramicreview. Check it out here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAoajCl8PVI&t=71s

Immerse yourself in our universe of ceramics!

You can find Georgie on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/georgieceramics/ or on her website here: https://www.georgiegardiner.co.uk/

Come and join us today for a a great conversation with the wonderful Morel Doucet. Morel, currently residing in Florida, and originally from Haiti, is now a full time artist and educator.

Bob Acton and Morel https://www.moreldoucet.com/ had a wonderful conversation about his work, his purpose in producing they type of work he does, and, of course, colour and surface design.

From his artist statement:

My work explores the cultural disparity of self- realization, assimilation, and transnational identity as a Haitian immigrant. Using direct or implied human figures, I explore narratives of vulnerability, isolation, and alienation within various cultures across the globe. Within the vocabulary of indigenous art and my dreams, I create whimsical forms resulting in a diary of self-mythology.

These exchanges allude to a larger conversation about sea-level rise, environmental pollution, and the displacement between descendants of the African diaspora, and their physical environments. Through intensive detailed labor, my work mimics the current state of Black fragility. I employ ceramics, illustrations, and prints to examine the realities of climate- gentrification, migration, and displacement within the Black diaspora communities. In addressing these issues, I merge my Afro-Caribbean culture with flora and fauna and draw from the concerns of the collective consciousness of my community.

In my quest to illustrate the impact of climate-gentrification, I present work with visual impact and sensitivity —and draw inspiration from the indigenous cultures of the Amazon, Aboriginal people of Australia, and the Yoruba tribe of West Africa.

Welcome to this episode with Michelle Gregor. She is a leading sculptor and painter in California, USA . We discussed her approach to ceramic sculpture and her style in using colour in surface design.

Her sculptures have remarkably nuanced surfaces that are the end product of a great deal of improvisation and hard work. We talked about her work, each of which often goes through as many as seven or eight firings at a high temperature (low stoneware) setting that gives them their characteristic hard surfaces. Using water as a medium, Gregor applies color in pools, patches and slashes, letting gravity have its way with the wet pigments. “I like working with water as a medium for color both in fired clay work and on canvas and paper,” Gregor explains. “It pools, drips, follows contour, dries slowly and has a beautiful life of its own.”

See Michelle's work on her website here: https://www.michellegregor.com/ and her Instagram page here: https://www.instagram.com/michellegregor/

Bob Acton had a delightful conversation on the Colour and Ceramics Podcast with Margaret Keelan, a Canadian sculptor now living in California. Bob and Margaret spoke about her journey in clay, her approach to colour and surface design, and she shared some helpful ideas for clay artists.

You can connect with Margaret on her Instagram page here. https://www.instagram.com/margaretkeelan and her website https://margaretkeelan.com/

We hope you enjoy the show.

You can check out all the episodes on our website at https://colourandceramics.com/

In this episode, Bob talks with Chris Riccardo who works out of Montana, USA. Chris is known for his figurative sculptures both human form and animals. Bob and Chris talked about his journey in clay, how he approaches his work, and Chris talks about his current studio Omerta Arts in Helena, Montana.

You can reach Chris at his website https://chrisriccardo.com/ or his Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/chris_riccardo.

Welcome to the Naomi Clement episode where Bob and Naomi talk all things clay. Bob and Naomi talk discuss her approach to colour and Naomi's approach to her rich, dynamic surface design. Naomi also talks about her journey in clay, her mentoring program, and her school "Maker's Mark" as she is focused on helping creatives make a living from art.

Join us for a great conversation with this wonderful Canadian artist.

You can reach Naomi here on her website https://naomiclement.com and you can also reach here here on her Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/naomikclement

Bob Acton had a great conversation with Melissa Weiss about her work. Bob and Melissa talked about approaches to creative work, her processes of clay selection, colour and surface design (of course), and she had some wonderful ideas about her creative process.

You can find Melissa at her website https://www.melissaweisspottery.com/ and on her Instagram page at https://www.instagram.com/melissaweisspottery/

We hope you enjoy the show.

Today's Colour and Ceramics Podcast episode, features the vibrant Nick Benard from @nbernardpottery. Prepare for a whirlwind discussion with Bob @bobacton, as we dive into Nick's art, enveloped in mesmerizing colours and intricate surface designs. Spoiler, he's also got some killer tips on navigating the art world!

Operating from scenic Scottsdale, Arizona, Nick crafts breathtaking vessels that we're absolutely smitten with! Don't just take our word for it, hop over to his Instagram @nbernardpottery and let your eyes feast on his creations! Go a little further down the rabbit hole and explore at https://nbenard.com - you won't regret it!

In this episode, Bob Acton and Lisa McGrath had a great conversation about her beautiful work. While we talked about her functional and sculptural work and her approach to colour and surface design, she shared an interesting story about how her use of a coloured lichen glaze came to be,

You can find more about Lisa on her Instagram Page here https://www.instagram.com/ipotlisa/ and on her website https://www.bramblestudio.ca/

I hope you enjoy the show!

Bob @bobacton had a great conversation with Mark Dally @markdallyceramics about his beautiful work using mostly black slips. We talked about his journey in clay, how he overcomes problems in his practice, some of his business practice, and, of course we talked about surface design and his thoughts about the use of colour.

You can find Mark on his website here https://www.markdallyceramics.co.uk/ and on his Instagram page here https://www.instagram.com/markdallyceramics/.

Mark also produces his own line of slip trailers and you can find them here https://www.sliptrailer.com/

We are beyond thrilled and blessed today to have the distinctive talent of Craig Underhill gracing the Colour and Ceramics Podcast! @colourandceramics

Hailing from the UK, Craig is an extraordinary ceramic artist and painter whose exceptional use of colour and surface design gives birth to truly awe-inspiring hand built sculptural works. Craig generously offered insights into his creative process, his unique style reflected in his treatment of surfaces, and his passion for colour (you guessed it, it's a colour podcast after all).

Not only did Craig and I engage in this exploration, but our friend Bob @bobacton also contributed to the conversation, exchanging exciting ideas tailor-made for the ceramic artists among us.

Experience the magic of Craig's creativity on Instagram at @craigunderhill7 and through his website at craigunderhill.com.

Eager to learn from the master himself? Craig shares his wealth of knowledge and experience in a hands-on course on slab building and surface decoration at The Ceramic School - https://bit.ly/craigunderhill. Let your creativity soar and become a part of this artistic journey.

Welcome to the Colour and Ceramics Podcast.

Bob Acton @bobacton had a great conversation with Adrian Arleo about her sculpture work and her use of colour and surface design.

Check out Adrian's website here https://www.adrianarleo.com/ and her Instagram page here https://www.instagram.com/adrianarleo/

Bob Acton enjoyed a good conversation with Mathew O'Reilly about his work, his use of colour, and his thoughts about surface design.

You can find about about Matthew on his website here http://www.mattheworeilly.ca/ and his Instagram page here https://www.instagram.com/matthewosmiley

Don't forget to subscribe wherever you find your podcasts and leave us a review as it helps others find the podcast.

Enjoy Bob's interview with Barry Stedman, a UK potter who uses brilliant colours in his work. Bob and Barry talk about his journey in clay, his use of colour and the specific techniques he uses to produce such lovely work.

Barry can be found on his website at https://www.barrystedman.co.uk/ and in Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/barrystedman

In today's episode, Bob Acton has a lovely conversation with Miche Follano where they discuss colour, slips, surface design and ideas about how to produce beautiful work.

Inspired by her love affair with collage, printing and painting, Miche's current body of work uses the urban landscapes to inspire a contemporary interpretation. The interplay between surface and form, the ways in which colours exist side by side provide infinite ways of how clay can be transformed into rich, visceral and personally expressive individual statements.

Intuitive mark making, lithography and clay manipulation, combined with careful deliberation on familiar form, provides a satisfying making process; allowing for the spontaneous to sit beside the considered. This builds an exciting visual language open to personal interpretation

https://www.instagram.com/michefollano/

Welcome to the Colour and Ceramics Podcast and Bob's interview with Richard Wilson. Bob and Richard talk about his journey in clay and his approach to colour and surface design.

Richard was born and brought up in Norwich, and has been making pots since the early 1970s. After studying for two years at Great Yarmouth College of Art, he worked from 1974 to 1980 at Le Dieu Pottery in Norwich before spending 3 years in Australia and New Zealand, and a further five in Germany, working with many potters using different techniques, in particular woodfired salt glazes.

He now uses brightly coloured slips on his work. You can find him on his website at https://www.rwilson-ceramics.co.uk and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/richard_wilson_ceramics/

Another bonus episode before we switch to bi-weekly.

Bob interviewed Carole Epp, a Canadian potter and ceramic community builder. They talk about art, clay, colour, surface, and Carole's connecting emotion and people to her work. I think you'll really enjoy the conversation.

You can find Carole at her website https://www.caroleepp.com/ and through her ceramic community building site https://www.musingaboutmud.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/musingaboutmud/

And, of course, please subscribe to the show and give the show a review.