Category Archives: Uncategorized

Take a few minutes during the cold winter months to enjoy these Swiss ceramic tile stoves. Ceramic factories in Winterthur and Zurich produced elaborate tile stoves for wealthy Swiss patrons from about 1550 through the mid-1700s. The stoves provided radiant heat to keep rooms cozy during long Swiss winters. The enclosed stove chamber also containedContinue reading “Swiss Ceramic Stoves”

I like Russell Biles’ work. A lot. But I admit not everyone shares my enthusiasm. My wife, for example. I say this guy is provocative, she says he picks at scabs. Perhaps it depends on your perspective or approach to art. Everyone should be able to agree that he is a skilled craftsman and extremelyContinue reading “Russell Biles – Artist Profile”

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In the past I’ve toyed with newsprint transfers offered by Isla Transfers. I enjoyed the experiments but am no means competent using them. So I sought out Jason Bige Burnett at Isla Transfers to ask him about his company and products. First of all, newsprint transfers consist of underglaze pigment screen-printed onto newsprint and usedContinue reading “Isla Transfers”

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Francoise Joris is a Belgian ceramic artist. Her work is identifiable by its ethereal, fragile appearance and suggestions of marine and plant living forms. The best introduction to her work is perhaps this video, which although in French with Dutch subtitles, demonstrates her creative process. JW: Do you use cellulose or nylon fiber additives inContinue reading “Francoise Joris – Artist Profile”

Cybele Beaudoin is another Canadian ceramic artist doing interesting things with a lighter, more lyrical tone. (What’s with all the Canadian creativity? Is there something in the water?) Cybele describes herself as a 30-year old French Canadian and a full-time ceramic artist for almost 4 years. She works at home in her small studio (inContinue reading “Cybele Beaudoin – Artist Profile”

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I subscribe to the NY Times. The paper recently ran an article about a donation of arms and armor to the Metropolitan Museum in New York. I looked up the Met’s website to see whether they post online information about their ceramics collection. They do indeed. In 2017, The Met made all images of public-domainContinue reading “The Met’s Ceramics Collection”

Sophie Mannessiez-Guinet is another heart-stopping ceramic artist working in Quebec, Canada. I was seduced by the sensuality of her Ubuntu Collection. I reached out to ask Sophie some questions about her work. JW: Will you provide some information about your background and training? SMG: I studied photography and visual arts for 4 years in SaintContinue reading “Sophie Manessiez-Guinet: Artist Profile”

Here is a set of videos from the British Royal Collection Trust on restoring a previously shattered and repaired blue & white porcelain vase. The vase, one of a pair, was originally made in China around 1700. In January 1892, a housemaid accidently broke the vase into 34 pieces. The first video shows the repairedContinue reading “Conservation Practices”

Last November I took a trip to Tucson and stopped in at the Arizona State Museum (“ASM”) to view some ceramics in the back stacks. (Remember when life was like that – going someplace that just interested you?) I met with Todd Pitezel, Associate Curator of the Archaeological Collections at the Museum. I reached outContinue reading “Arizona State Museum Pottery Collection”

John Davidson lives and works in the province of Quebec. He is the 2nd Canadian ceramic artist that I’m profiling. John’s work and more about his background can be found on his website. JW: You have a well-crafted artistic statement. You discuss 3 areas of focus: (1) form, (2) surface treatment, and (3) color. WillContinue reading “John Davidson – Artist Profile”