Barbara Wyatt
ARTIST STATEMENT
Love of nature and basket weaving with natural materials are the
backdrop for my inspirations in clay. My creations are strongly
influenced by organic forms and native design.
BIOGRAPHY
Creating in clay has been my passion for more than 10 years. My
artistic spirit has always demanded that I spend time creating
something with my hands. Raising children and a career in nursing
limited my creative pursuits but I still found time to become an
accomplished basket weaver, with an emphasis on collecting natural
materials to weave.
I found my way to the ceramics studio with an independent classes in
pottery and principles of design at Edmonds CC in 1998. Here I
gained technical skills as a ceramic artist and design principles
with attention to form and structure. 3 yrs. later I was accepted
into the Sculptors Workshop in Edmonds, where I continue to date.
This experience, along with building a 600 sq. ft studio above my
garage, has propelled me into a new career as a ceramic artist.
My 10 year background in basket weaving proved to be a natural
addition to my tendency to embellish my pots with pine needles,
grasses and other materials found in nature. I have a strong
affinity toward warm, natural, organic forms, as is evident in my
work. My influences range from ocean and beach settings (as evidence
in my seaweed and shell embellishments) to Northwest forests with
the collection of pine needles, cones and moss as adornment. Quiet
reflective times in nature foster my desire to recreate nature's
myriad forms in the ceramic medium.
Frequent visits to Florida, my state of origin, as well as forays in
the Northwest woods, provides me with an abundance of natural
materials. My favorite time to connect with myself and nature is to
take long walks on the beach and forage for nature's castaways to
adorn my work.
I fire most of my work to a cone 5 in an electric kiln. I do a
combination of hand and wheel thrown work in my studio.
Embellishment with beads, shells, copper wire, and various natural
materials occurs after the final firing. Lately I have become
focused on working with colored slips that can be dropped as dots,
or carved into ceramic forms for designs purposes.
I am currently an active member of:
Sculptor's Workshop
Washington Potters Assoc.
Artist Connect
ISEA (International Society of Experimental Artists)
Edmonds Critique Group
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