FROM PAPER TO POT

I am a huge fan of seeing the two dimensional designs of potters and then the design as articulated on a three dimensional form. The original art/design gives a glimpse into the mind and creative process of the potter as well as into the manner and techniques he employs to fit the design onto an actual form. Some potters are rigid and maintain the design exactly from paper to pot, while others prove to be very flexible and maintain the concept of the art, but not necessarily the literal nature of it. Either way, it does give you a sense of how the design came into being and how the potter see design and form. As a potter and collector, this process fascinates me and the various methods employed are ultimately what makes the pot work and the design communicate with the viewer.

Illustrated on the left, is a drawing I found on the internet of a Ron Meyers teabowl with a stylized fish design. On the right is a very similar design, fully articulated in color on a wonderful covered jar. Based on the two, it is obvious that this quickly produced fish is part of the vocabulary of designs that Meyers is very familiar with using. Both are based on an archetype, yet each has their own unique personality and impact on the viewer. Either way, Meyers has captured the vitality of his fish on pot and paper.