Nicholas Bernard

NB20 tendrils, stripes and golden

NB20 tendrils, stripes and golden

Work Details

NB20 tendrils, stripes and golden

2022

Porcelain

18.5 X 14.50

Inventory ID: #3457





    About Nicholas Bernard

    Early experiences with clay as a child apparently left a mark. After school, apprenticeships and more school, making pots was, is and will continue to be a way of life. I’ve been a studio potter for nearly 40 years now, living and working in Arizona for much of that time. My work as a professional has always been low fire earthenware. For many years my Raku pots were shown nationally. The influences are scattered from the Southwest, Africa and Japan to the cultures of the Mediterranean. A museum full of 2000 year old pots in Rhodes was an epiphany. Simple forms with no contrivance or pretension filled room after room. I hope to make one like that before I’m done. Seeing those pots 20 years ago started this current evolution. It began with soft muted colors, totally classic shapes.

    Amphora, ewers, and jugs with an ancient feel. Then, textured pots with extravagant handles, spouts and flourishes using brushed color. Over the last 20 years the current body of work has evolved. Hot colors, simple closed forms with very controlled textures dominate.

    High fire porcelain and white stoneware have now been added to the mix. This work is completely different from the earthenware. Different clays, firing and extravagant decorating techniques give homage to my influences and work from the from the past with a whole new level of skills and maturity.

    The last piece finished today, good, bad or indifferent is the product of doing the work for many years. These pieces can’t be made without those experiences, successes and failures, lots of failures. Even after 40 years, everyday in the studio is an adventure; I’m looking forward to working tomorrow.

    Artist Statement
    Form is everything; I stretch clay to make canvases for decoration. Texture, pattern and color are successful additions when the shapes are impeccable. My inspirations are many, from the classic forms of antiquity to the simple, graceful pots made by indigenous peoples and the work of modern studio potters.

    This current body of work deals mostly with simple clean form. Dramatic color, graphic pattern and subtle texture accentuate what I hope is a mastery of the traditional vessel form regardless of the clays and firing.

    Technical Description
    Thrown earthenware, with layers of textured slip, colored slips and oxides. Multiple gas or electric firings in oxidation to cone 03 or approximately 2000F.

    Also Cone10 reduction, gas firings to 2350F. with Porcelain and White Stoneware.

    All Works by Nicholas Bernard

    NB20 tendrils, stripes and golden

    NB20 tendrils, stripes and golden

    2022

    Porcelain

    18.5 X 14.50

    Inventory ID: #3457

    Tall Wrapped Bowl

    Tall Wrapped Bowl

    2022

    Porcelain

    18 X 9.50

    Inventory ID: #3531

    Bottle, Long Feathers

    Bottle, Long Feathers

    2022

    Porcelain

    12.5 X 12

    Inventory ID: #3533

    Tall Urn Long Feathers

    Tall Urn Long Feathers

    Porcelain

    25.5 X 10

    Inventory ID: #3535

    Vessel, Mazes and Rip Rap

    Vessel, Mazes and Rip Rap

    Porcelain

    20 X 14

    Inventory ID: #3536

    Flat Circles

    Flat Circles

    2023

    Porcelain

    10 X 7.50

    Inventory ID: #3602

    Chevron Vessel

    Chevron Vessel

    2023

    Porcelain

    11 X 6.5

    Inventory ID: #3603

    Vessel  (b/r w/pattern)

    Vessel (b/r w/pattern)

    2023

    Porcelain

    10.5 X 6.5

    Inventory ID: #3604

    Bullseye

    Bullseye

    2023

    Porcelain

    9.5 X 9

    Inventory ID: #3605

    NB10 Bands and Mazes

    NB10 Bands and Mazes

    2022

    White Stoneware

    16 X 13

    Inventory ID: #3370