Tricia Ballard
My work consists of functional ceramic sets where I have combined my appreciation for simplistic form, illustrative patterns, and tableware aesthetics. I enjoy the structure and dedication that is required to produce pottery linked through shape and surface design. Just as I present my pots in groups, I also think in sets as I work on the wheel. I throw vertical mugs, vases, and pitchers before moving onto horizontally oriented bowls and plates. Achieving a sense of uniformity between pots demands consistency and failure. This process has taught me considerable patience and an admiration for the vessels I use in my daily life.
While I am driven to make beautiful ceramics, functionality is my priority. My forms are quiet and practical, as are their surfaces. Ever since reading her instructional guide, A Potter’s Workbook, Clary Illian has been a major inspiration for my work. Her generous handles, untrimmed feet, and thickly rimmed pots inspire me in my effort to create inviting and usable tableware. I want my work to appear refined, but I also enjoy leaving evidence of its handmade quality through a thumbprint at each handle’s attachment. On some pots, I have drawn with slip or stain on their rounded surfaces. For others, a single glaze works best to highlight the underlying beauty of the throwing process. Before college, I worked mainly with drawing and watercolors. Learning to work with clay has been a challenge, but I find the medium immensely gratifying in its ability to produce art that can be touched, carried, used, and held.
I am curious about the ways domestic spaces influence our creative interests and values. I first discovered the novelty of handmade pottery while spending time in my grandparents’ summer kitchen. I am especially interested in exploring the relationship between ceramics and habits of cooking, eating, and presenting meals. I value the subtle delights that exist within a daily routine and am inspired by homes filled with personal art. I hope the utilitarian nature of my art invites others to appreciate the connection between pottery, food, and small joys hidden in the everyday.