Pam Horner
Pottery by Pam
British Columbia, Canada
Website
www.potterybypam.ca
Email
Pam@potterybypam.ca
Artist Statement
I live on the beautiful Sunshine Coast of British Columbia. The sights and sounds of nature that surround us in this wonderful place where the mountains meet the sea became my inspiration to create. My pottery is colorful, fun, and often whimsical.
Studio Description
My studio is small, but the size does not inhibit creativity. I make each piece from a slab of clay. Sometimes I texture the slab before I form it. Other times I add detail elements after I form the piece. Unique designs also are added at glazing.
What type of clay do you use?
Stoneware
What temperature do you fire to?
Cone 6
What is your primary forming method?
Handbuilding with slabs
What is your favorite surface treatment?
Decorating with glazes
Do you make any of your own tools?
No, but I frequently make my own molds.
What one word would you use to describe your work?
Functional and whimsical
What is your favorite thing about your studio?
Everything is where I can reach it.
What is the one thing in your studio you can’t live without?
My slab roller
What are your top three studio wishes?
More space for making, drying, and displaying.
What’s on your current reading list?
I read mostly fiction and some non-fiction books, plus pottery magazines.
How do you save money on materials and supplies?
I often use found objects to make marks on the clay. I take advantage of sales and price breaks.
How do you recharge creatively?
The view from my studio (see website) is inspiration. I practice yoga, exercise, read and volunteer with my church and a community senior's ministry.
Do you have any DIY tips for studio efficiency?
It helps to have the tools I use the most closest to my work area. I gather all of them in one open container. I keep like tools together in bins.
What challenges have you given yourself to overcome?
Not being afraid to try something totally new or a new way of doing something even if it does not turn out. It is continual learning process.
What did your first piece look like?
My first piece was on the wheel. I was unable to replicate the success on a consistent basis. I tried handbuilding and loved it.
What ceramic superpower would you have and why?
Having clay dry faster when a piece is complete. I live in an environmental rain forest, so sometimes drying is a challenge.
Who is your ceramic art mentor and why?
The first class I took from Sandi Pierantozzi inspired me and gave me courage to try anything.
What is your studio playlist?
Mostly Christian music, or a 70s–90s rock station.
Why do you create art?
Looking back, I have always done something creative: sewing, handwork, gardening, playing musical instruments. At this point, it is clay.
What is your best studio tip?
When finishing for the day, always tidy up before leaving the studio. It makes it so much easier to be creative when returning to a clean work space.
If you could change one property of clay, what would it be?
Not so much memory when I make a mistake!
