Ceramics and Pottery Arts and Resources

 

 

Andrea Gill  – 2014

 

Andrea Gill believes that ceramics is the ideal media to combine surface color and three-dimensional form. The thrust of her work is more preoccupied with the decorative than functional, which liberates the scale of her works and scope of her designs. Detailed imagery and patterning is an ever present feature of her ceramics, which she successfully integrates into her original shapes. These tend to involve appendages of wing like handles (not dissimilar to hispano moresque alhambra vases) and vessels surrounded by larger vessels, supporting more utiisation of detail, and bringing forth a refreshing journey of discovery, wonder and a sense of evolving form. Her work is decorated, often employing hand-cut stencils, which generate stunning layers of color and glaze on clay vessels that allude to the history of ceramics, textiles, painting and ornament.

An extract from Andrea Gill’s artistic statement:

“I choose to make vases and bowls because those forms allow the most open interpretation of shape without losing the iconic identity of the object. The scale of the vases, from two to six feet, gives me room to explore color, shape and pattern. The bowls provide a more intimate space where I have been exploring narrative ideas, recently involving mythology. My devotion to surface patterning has also proven to be an addiction that satisfies my love of stylized image and my firmly positive response to the word ‘decorative’. In the motifs of my overlaid figure/ground surfaces, I suspect I am often exploring my subconscious. The sources for the motifs range from my garden to doodles to texts of historical ornament, such as Owen Jones’ Grammar of Ornament. There is the affirmation of historic precedence of the painted pot, and the possibilities of current clay and glaze technology to support my vision.”

Her husband John Gill displays a similar ceramic trajectory of a restless dynamic with lots of movement, but featuring more asymmetrical forms, highlighted by multi faceted surfaces of contrasting colours and combinations of expressive shapes. John Gill knew he wanted to be a ceramic artist when he was told you couldn’t make sculpture out of clay. Failing to grasp the rationale behind this assertion, it motivated him to pursue a path in ceramics to prove this was a fallacy. He hasn’t looked back since.

 

John Gill’s Artist Statement –

“In my work I try to utilize simple techniques. This allows for freedom of ideas and process. Shape, form, use and color in form and to question other possibilities. My work uses shape and form to inflate color. Working within the realm of function expands the potential. History of ceramics, painting and sculpture collide. Clay has a simple directness – it prints beautifully.”

 

 

Andrea Gill

BFA in painting from Rhode Island School of Design in 1971, and, after a serendipitous job working for a potter, went on to study ceramics at the Kansas City Art Institute. She is currently a professor of ceramic art at the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University in Alfred, New York. She has been a resident at the Archie Bray Foundation and Anderson Ranch and in October 2012 Andrea Gill worked in the Voulkos Visiting Artist Studio as a Visiting Artist Fellow.

website

 

Andrea Gill – vase and bowl set

2013

 

 

Footed ceramic vessel with elaborate lid – Andrea Gill

 

 

Sculptural head vase – Andrea Gill

 

 

 

Vase with surface pattern decoration – Andrea Gill

 

 

 

 

‘Cherry Blossoms on a Winter Day’  – Andrea Gill

 

 

 

Andrea Gill

Harvey Meadows Gallery

2014

 

 

Andrea Gill

 

 

 

Vase bowl set – Andrea Gill

 

 

 

Female figurine vessel – Andrea Gill

 

 

 

Andrea Gill

 

‘Iznik Vase’ with arabesque decoration – Andrea Gill

 

 

Ceramic vessel with tapestry and fabric print textures – Andrea Gill

 

 

 

Andrea Gill

Harvey Meadows Gallery

2014

 

 

Ceramic vessel encasing a vase- Andrea Gill

 

 

Andrea Gill

Alfred University School of Art and Design Image Gallery

 

 

 

Andrea Gill vases

 

 

Andrea Gill matching vessels

 

 

 

Andrea Gill

Low fire ceramic, Majolica glaze, engobes

34 inches height

 

 

‘Hidden Glance’ – Andrea Gill

1990

 

 

Madonna series ‘Sweet’ – Andrea Gill

Low fire ceramic, Majolica glaze

28 x 4 x 9 inches  — 2010

 

 

 

‘Mithila Basin’ – Andrea Gill

 

 

 

‘Red and Pink Flower Vessel’ – Andrea Gill

 

 

Face sculpture vase – Andrea Gill

 

 

John Gill

 

John Gill is a Professor of Ceramic Art at the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University where he is currently Chair of the Division of Ceramic Art.. He has degrees from the Kansas City Art Institute (BFA, 1973) and The New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University (MFA, 1975).

 

website

 

 

‘Bottle #7’ – John Gill

 

 

 

Stoneware ‘Lone Vase’ – John Gill

 

 

Geometric pattern bowl – John Gill

 

 

 

Ceramic Ewer – John Gill

 

 

Ceramic platter – John Gill

 

 

Ewer – John Gill

12-x-13-x-9.5-inches

Photo Brian Oglesbee

 

 

Ceramic platter – John Gill

 

 

Ceramic bottle – John Gill

 

 

 

Teapot – John Gill

 

 

Abstract ceramic ‘Ewer 3′ – John Gill

Harvey Meadows Gallery

 

 

 

John Gill – large glazed stoneware teapot or pitcher

 

 

Sculptural ceramic vase – John Gill

 

 

Ceramic Ewer – John Gill

 

 

 

 

John Gill mug

 

 

Polychrome stoneware radish platter 2010- John Gill

16 x 22 x 5 inches

Photo Brian Oglesbee

 

 

 

John Teapot 2010

 

 

Abstract shaped vase – John Gill

 

 

 

Vase by John Gill

 

 

 

Wine Ewer with handle – John Gill

height 13 inches

 

 

 

Lidded abstract jar  John Gill

31 x 12 inches

 

 

 

Sculptural ceramic ewer – John Gill

 

 

Andrea and John Gill teaching

 

 

 

 

 
NEXT POST  —  Contemporary clayartist concepts