Courtney Hamilton

Pottery, as a process, is a combination of life forces. The clay comes from the earth, mixes with water to be formed by man, and then set with fire. The result is a fantastic piece which represents all of these elements and my artistic flair. When an artist is able to harness all of these forces, great works of art can be produced. In my work, overall, there is a simplistic elegance of line and color. This simplicity allows the viewer to envision the life forces which build each art work.

I enjoy a variety of glazing processes; however, my current interest is raku. Raku essentially is trial by fire. Raku is a firing method in which the pieces are glazed and then fired in a kiln to a temperature of about 1800F. When the glaze has melted, I remove the piece from the kiln with metal tongs, and place it in a metal container with combustible materials like newspaper or sawdust. The red-hot piece immediately ignites the combustible material causing flames and smoke. A lid is placed on the container and the fire consumes the oxygen in the container and creates a reduction atmosphere. This atmosphere, along with the smoke reacts with the clay and glaze to create unpredictable metallic and lustrous effects. Since this process cannot be repeated the same every time, each piece is unique. It is the element of surprise and the unknown that truly interests me. Color and texture come together and evoke a passionate visual response.

Ceramics is a way for me to extend my spirit and the spirit of nature in each piece of art. It is my passion to use the elements earth, fire, and water to create my own beauty. This passion is experienced in each individual art work.