Peter Stephens,

born Adelaide, South Australia, 1948. Studied art and craft from a young age, if only modestly, uninspiringly.

Studies and participation;

SA School of Art (University of SA) . Tasmanian College of Advanced Education (University of Tasmania). University of Sydney (Art Workshop). Macquarie University (Art Facility). Flinders University Of SA. SA College of Advanced Education (University of SA). Attended Pottery workshops/studios in Japan - Hagi, Osaka, Tajimi, Seto, Shigaraki.

Interests include, pottery, ceramics, photography, painting, drawing, web design, writing (philosophy), Japanese, meditation and walking. Worked in studio as an amateur practicing artist and craftsperson in Hobart, Sydney and Adelaide. Worked as studio assistant in the Ceramic Studio, Adelaide College of Arts.

Likes making simple domestic wares and has visited many Japanese potteries exploring Japanese traditions. Prefers exploration and experiments with clay, technique, and glazes, not working to style. Recommends: “the Unknown Craftsman” by Yanagi Souetsu.

ARTIST STATEMENT

When I say I am an artist and this is a work of art, I am saying there is something detached, something separate. This view of a world external is a convention, a tradition, a habit. I don't want to see the fear, violence, war, inhumanity, and ugliness in my life. I want to be safe and secure. Artificially, abstractly, I have made life a division. Art is meant to bring beauty and wonder back to me, and to inspire and stimulate me. But why live with a detached, divided view of the world, and go to all this effort to bring it back home? Why have a brain that operates in division keeping the world organised, manageable, and discreet? Why not have an open, free, mind, and, you are the world, completely?

GENERAL COMMENTS:
#There are in fact two standards used in the world. One is a cup = 200ml, the other is a cup = 250ml. But then, whatever gauge we use, this "cup" volume, is in fact closer to what is called a mug, or a coffee cup, and more than what is called a teacup.
#all my teapots have a strainer. This is done by piercing a set of holes through the wall of the body before I put on the spout. The body of the teapot has a set of small perforations leading to the spout, and this is the traditional craft method of making a strainer.
#thanks very much for your interest. This mug is one-off. I think you are looking for a set? I don't work with sets. My work is not stylistic, it is explorative, experimental, and I am happy to get unique individual results. Often there are some similarities in shape and glaze, etc, but generally there are no sets.
#I have the knack of making dripless teapots. But just to be sure I put some water in it and tested it for you. No drips.