Collection: John Taylor

My studio practice revolves around pottery, ceramic processes, color, pattern, and the figure. I make ceramics, paintings, and works on paper. I use very similar methods of building surfaces with ceramics as well as in my painting. Line, pattern, and color all come into play, I enjoy the formal elements of art, and I enjoy the “building of a surface”. Many times the figure emerges, the figure is a reoccurring subject in my work. And there is humor in this figures life.

My painting process begins with many layers on the surface that are scratched or drawn through. After hardening consecutive layers are applied and removed. I enjoy the intuitive nature of my painting process. I use a variety of materials including watercolor, oil and urethane.

Work on paper, technically a form of painting. These mainly start as Trace Prints. A plate is inked and paper laid on the surface. I then draw on the back and the pressure from the pencil picks up the ink on the other side of the sheet. After the ink dries I go into the drawing with watercolor and a fine pen. The surface of pure pigment from the watercolor produces a vibrant color surface.

Ceramics and ceramic processes suit me just fine. I enjoy the feeling of clay, the touch of the soft clay in my hands, throwing on the wheel, the melting of various natural minerals in the kiln, and, always, the unexpected kiln delight! My ceramics can be divided into to groups, Tabletop and Objects (including the large jars).

The tabletop work is made of stoneware or porcelain, slip, stains, and glaze. They are made for and are fully functional for every day use with food service. Food safe glazes, tough stoneware clay, made for use in the kitchen, microwave oven, and dishwasher. The work is made in the manor of a studio artist, these are not production pots. I make, trim, and glaze each piece. There may be a repetition in the themes, but each pottery piece is original.

Objects are work I make that tend to vary with experimentation. These cross off into working with skeletal structures to long time pottery motifs. The large Jars have been a long time favorite of mine. In the past I called them “story vessels” They have evolved from my life in the northwest.