Jennifer Allen

Jennifer Allen is a functional ceramic artist who uses mainly porcelain clay. Her style and choice of surface treatments, expresses a subtle defiant element to her work. I am always stunned by the beautiful shapes she is able to achieve while still maintaining an expert level of craftsmanship. The shape of her pieces always seems to be enhanced by the style surface treatment she chooses. I normally find a balance between body and surface has been hard to achieve, so I think her work is truly inspiring.

Lids

When your considering how to make lids for a piece I think one of the strongest things to consider is how it will aesthetically enhance your work while remaining cohesive. It can either be the main focus to your work or just a simple functional element. My experience with lidded vessels has taught me that how you want your audience to handle the lid may change how you decide you want it to function. Your design choices will determine if it's just an object that will sit on your shelf as artwork, or if it becomes one of your favorite jars to use in the kitchen. 

Handles

For awhile I have been interested in ways i can design creatively functional handles. My biggest concern is the way it feels in a person's hand when they are using it, since my main purpose is producing functional work. I want to explore ways I can change basic handle shapes that allow me to achieve a unique, signature appeal.

French Montieres Pottery Vase

Nick Mackman

This ceramic artist takes a different approach to producing sculptural animal forms. She utilizes the application of mixed media, to achieve a very realistic look in her piece through using hair and staining techniques. I feel like I have insight into the way these animals lived and watching a part of their lives when I look at these scultpures. Nick Mackman lives in England where she continues to make sculptural work today.

Beth Cavener

Beth Cavener produces large highly detailed sculptures depicting various animals and exaggerates them in ways that reflect on the uncomfortable aspects of human nature. These sculptures remind me of the unavoidable animal instinct that people sometimes feel. We are confronted with these thoughts, in a way that makes me want to better understand the relation between the behaviors we can and can not control. 

Vincent Massey

Vincent Massey is a functional potter who discovered his passion for ceramics at an early age. His life experience has given him a strong foundation for his pottery. He often throws his pieces on a wheel and uses carving techniques. He specializes in making dinnerware sets and other large serving pieces.

Jason Bige Burnett

Paper flower cups

Jason Burnett works as a studio artist in North Carolina. He focuses on functional pottery, and has done several collaborative pieces with other artists. These cups were made using a paper resist technique, that he uses to create a fresh appeal in his work.