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Clay Work
Beth Armour was a professional potter for
15 years before switching full-time to graphic design.
Personal Statement:
My introduction to clay began in high school
where I was given the opportunity to throw on the wheel, an
opportunity reserved only for the seniors. Since I was a junior,
this was a great privilege and turned into the beginning of
my life's passion. After receiving a BA in Anthropology and
Pottery and an internship at Peters Valley Craft School, I
served an apprenticeship with Malcolm Wright, a master potter
working in the Japanese tradition. There have been many changes
in my work and philosophy towards clay throughout the years.
I continue to hold a fascination for the vessel form, although
I don't always concern myself with the functional aspect of
a piece as much as I did in previous years. I feel that the
discipline of working with the functional form, however, has
allowed me to perfect my throwing technique. This in turn
has given me the freedom to be more creative in my work. I
am currently experimenting with soda-fired porcelain.
Many of my pieces are contemplative. I will
often glaze a piece in such a way that one is drawn into the
lines of the piece without having to compete with the surface
treatment. Clay evokes images of earth and nature and I want
to express that in my work. Much of the beauty of nature lies
in the fact that it is not exactly perfect. There is much
more interest in a rock that is asymmetrical than one that
is round. Many of my pieces are altered in some way so that
I am playing with the idea of asymmetry. I also will sometimes
show pieces in groups of three, playing with the relationship
of each piece to each other, along with the space created
between them.
Visit the clay
portfolio to see some of my clay work.
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