This collection of pottery was inspired by combining elegant wheel thrown forms with individually hand painted abstract designs. My idea was that by using vibrant colours, in flowing brush strokes, décor and form would complement each other to create unique three dimensional pieces of ceramic art.

I have spent more than 20 years studying ceramic shape and form and have been inspired by various cultural traditions from around the world. Art at its best points beyond itself, beckoning us to a forgotten inner landscape, awakening within a way of seeing which was not there before. It is my hope that when you look at these pieces they open a window through which you can see something timeless, something that personally resonates with you. There is much more that I would like to say about the artistic ideas behind these tea bowls but I feel that it is important that the work speaks for itself and that you discover within it something which is unique to you.

This tea bowl was hand thrown on the potters wheel using a smooth white earthenware clay body. After one day, once the clay has hardened, the tea bowl is replaced on the potters wheel and slightly reshaped using traditional pottery tools in a process called ‘turning’. Turning aesthetically finishes the work and brings unity to the shape and form. The tea bowl is then painted in multiple layers of coloured slip using fan bristle brushes to create unique abstract designs showing movement, texture and tone. The tea bowl then undergoes two separate kiln firings; first to harden the clay and then a high temperature glaze firing whereby the painted surface is vibrantly brought to life and captured forever beneath a clear gloss glaze.

This painting technique creates a very subtle texture to the smooth glazed surface that adds an attractive tactile dimension to each piece. I leave the interior and mouth of the tea bowl white as this contrasts well with the painted surface and enhances the vibrancy of the colours.

If you are interested in learning more about my ceramics please visit the ‘Russell Akerman Ceramic Art’ Facebook page where you can see hundreds of archive photographs and read about the ideas and inspirations behind my work.

Being individually hand thrown and hand painted every piece is completely unique.

For authenticity this tea bowl has been hand signed under the foot ring.

The height of this tea bowl is 8cm by 11cm wide.

'I hope that you enjoy my work as much as I have enjoyed creating it.' - Russell Akerman.