Andrew Dowden

Isle of Wight, United Kingdom

Title: Inverted Dome Vase Form on Ceramic Stand

Year of Creation: 2010

Glaze: White gloss on top, side and liner, hand carved inlaid copper

Clay Body: Red earthenware

Dimensions: Height 4.5 inches (not including stand), Width 9.5 inches

Artist's Statement: Carpentry was my trade for 20 years; during research of Isle of Wight pottery - watching a bowl being thrown on a wheel - I was inspired to take up ceramics, now an absorbing pastime. Hand-carving, surface texture and form are my main areas of interest, and I particularly enjoy slab work and joining. Many pieces are inspired by the Isle of Wight - tracks made by man, machine and by nature, leaving their imprint on the earth. Architecture, archaeology, engineering and machinery add further interest to designs. The wheel is often the starting point from which many forms develop. Red clay has a warmth and glow not readily found in other clay bodies, and I use a limited pallete of slips and glazes, allowing the colour of the clay to become an integral part of the surface design. I embrace new challenges and strive to achieve new complementary forms, surface textures and patterns.