westaustinpottery

Terry Ilse Ceramic Design

My goal as a ceramic artist is to create pieces that seem to defy gravity. Clay is earth. It is elemental. Using it to emulate something that has risin from the earth is how I approach creating each piece. Creating beauty out of a most elemental substance on earth gives me a feeling of self-transendence. I try to inject a sense of movement with my pieces as they twist and turn upward. Even with my glazing or staining, I try to create a sense of transition with gradations of one color to an other.

I have a small but beautiful studio located on a hill behind my residence on the west side of Austin, Texas, with a beautiful view of the Texas hill country.

I use a red earthenware distributed by Armadillo Clay of Austin, Texas, called Buffalo Wallow with Grog. I like this clay because of the texture it provides when I scrape and shape each piece.

I fire to 2232°F.

I throw large cylinders and then start to manipulate them by hand. I use ribs to create shapes and twists that will also give my pieces texture.

I often apply glaze on the interior of my pieces, but will stain the exteriors so that the texture I create will show through. Glazes tend to cover up the texture that I like. I use a spray gun on most pieces to create blends and gradations.

Movement

The beautiful view of the Texas hill country.

My wheel.

1. More space. 

2. A good spray booth. 

3. A pug mill.

I compare prices locally to the prices online and choose the cheaper option.

I socialize with other potters and review other potters work online.

Clean everyday before leaving the studio. This keeps the dust at a minimum and a clean fresh start the next day.

I am constantly working to throw taller pieces. I like height and sometimes have to create two pieces and mend them together to get it. I am constantly pushing myself to throw higher.

My very first piece was a pinch pot that I made in college and it looks like a tree trunk.

Since I like height. My ceramic superpower with be to throw as high as possible.

I look to others for inspiration as well as technical skill and tips.

Warren MacKenzie. I lived in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area while he was at the height of his career, and he inspired me to become a potter.

U2, Cold Play, Bob Scheider, Bruce Springsteen, Dead Can Dance

I create art because it is a fundamental need that I have to express myself. I have a need to add beauty to this world and try to achieve this by creating art.

Georgia O'keefe. I have always admired the soft beauty of her art. It has authenticity, simplicity ,and movement. Qualities that I admire and wish to emulate in my own work.

Keep it clean.

I wouldn't change a thing. I love it so much.