Brett Roberts

Artist Statement

The aesthetic affects to which form, texture, and color influence an individual piece is the key component to my work. The exploration of these characteristics begins with altering thrown vessel forms, faceting sides, and incorporating areas of contrasting qualities. Color is mainly utilized to create relationships between each variable through glaze application as well as the qualities produced from different kiln atmospheres. Areas of texture also play a key role in the juxtaposition of these contrasting elements, which create aesthetic interactions and contrasts, such as textured to smooth surfaces or vibrant to subtle colors.

I often take advantage of atmospheric firing processes because they offer results that augment the juxtaposed variables of each form. I use two separate clay bodies in my work. Porcelain is ideal for my soda-fired pieces for its naturally occurring effects and color shifts produced from the soda vapor in the kiln atmosphere. It is also used exclusively for my oxidation-fired work. I choose stoneware that is low in iron and light in its fired color for my salt-fired pots. The stoneware allows for subtle, earth-like colors and textures created through the build-up of salt on the surface of the clay that augment glaze application.