Ruth Easterbrook, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Ceramics Monthly: How do you come up with the forms and surfaces that are prevalent in your work? 

Ruth Easterbrook: My forms derive from multiple sources of research and inspiration. I look to historical ceramics as well as the dishes I use in my daily life as the foundation for proportions, practical solutions, and a starting point of my pots. Physical qualities such as volume, edge, and size are a product of paying attention, as much in the kitchen as in the studio, when I make adjustments during the making process. 

1 ‘Wall’ Flower Plates, to 12 in. (30 cm) in width, handbuilt red stoneware, glazes, fired to cone 6 in oxidation, 2020.

My surface and form are tightly intertwined. A design can inspire a form, such as with my floral plates—here I imagine and set up the design while the clay is still soft. For vertical volumes such as jars, cups, or vases where the decoration wraps around the many planes, I consider how the flowers, stems, or leaves will shift or move as they melt and adjust to the vertical slope of the pot.

CM: What is the most valuable advice you’ve received as an artist?

RE: The goal is not to find your style, but to put in the time, practice, and be true to yourself. Your voice is there from the start and will become stronger with time. Taking risks is an important part of growth. I often hear the voice of Doug Casebeer saying “fail faster,” encouraging me to not fear the process of discovery. 

2 Double Garden Jars, to 15 in. (38 cm) in height, wheel-thrown red stoneware, glazes, fired to cone 6 in oxidation, 2021. Photo: Jordan Cassway.

Learn more at www.rutheasterbrook.com.

Topics: Ceramic Artists, Functional Pottery

Related Content