R T Taylor

Knoxville, Tennessee

Title: Faux Vase

Year of Creation: 2007

Glaze: Underglaze and clear over

Clay Body: 04 white earthenware

Dimensions: Height 18 inches, Width 6 inches

Artist's Statement: R T Taylor creates his highly decorative and colorful ceramic wares using high-density white ware clay. Each piece is produced by hand, either by throwing the individual pot on a potter's wheel, using a hand building technique or some combination of both.

The process starts with the creation of the piece from a lump of clay. The clay is wedged, that is, worked by hand much like kneading bread, to get an even consistency and remove any air pockets. The clay is then slammed onto the wheel head of the potter's wheel. He then centers the clay and begins to throw the desired form. Upon satisfaction, the wet piece is removed from the wheel head and placed aside for drying. When the piece is leatherhard, dried enough to be handled and turned upside down, it is centered again and trimmed with sharp, flat wire tools to create the "foot", what the pot sits upon, to create an uplifted and elegant form. The piece is then set aside once again to dry, this time to a "green ware" state. A design is created and reproduced on the form using "slip", colored clays in liquid form. The piece is then fired in an electric kiln, called the bisque fire. When cooled, the piece is removed and a clear glaze is applied. The piece is fired once again, called the glaze fire.

All work, from beginning, to the art works fruition, is from the sole endeavor of the artist.

R T began his ceramic career in 1975 while attending college in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. From the beginning he found himself totally immersed in the process. Through the endless creation of ceramic work and the advanced in the technical and safety aspects of clay, it was only a natural progression to move from the earth tomes of stoneware to the bright and dynamic colors of underglazes. Thus allowing for the eclectic creation of fun, bright and colorful ceramics art.