Over the years, ceramic artist Steven Forbes-deSoule has had his work featured in a variety of group and solo exhibitions. His ceramics are also part of numerous corporate, private and museum collections throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe and Japan.
He’s been featured in publications, such as Ceramics Monthly magazine (May, 1985), and books such as Ceramics Spectrum, second edition; Clay and Glazes for the Potter, third edition; and Throwing on the Potter’s Wheel by Don Davis. He is also featured in 100 Southern Artists, to be released in 2012.
Rapid River Magazine:Tell us a little about Raku Pottery and why you chose this medium.
Steven Forbes-deSoule: American or Western raku is a unique method of firing, where the hot ware is removed from a small kiln, once it reaches 1800 – 2000 degrees F. The hot pottery is then placed in a metal container with combustible materials, such as newspaper. The resulting fire is then smothered by placing the lid on the container.
This action creates a reduction atmosphere (reduced oxygen), which affects the glazes and clay body. Once the ware cools (in about an hour) the metal container is opened. The results are always different and serendipitous. This serendipity is what attracted me to raku.
RRM: What drove you to become an artist?
SF: When I was in my 20s, I had two short-lived corporate careers. I found working for a corporation to be unfulfilling (to put it mildly). Consequently, I returned to college and just happened to take a pottery course. I loved it and five years later I received my Masters of Visual Arts degree in Ceramics from Georgia State University in Atlanta and the rest is history.
RRM: How did you get started? Tell us about your journey in this art form.
SF: After receiving my MVA, I set up a studio in my home in Atlanta. I worked in the studio, creating work during the day and at night worked as a waiter to supplement my income. After about two years of this double duty, I made a commitment (in my head and heart) to quit my night job and be a fulltime artist.
This is also the time when I committed to the raku process. Within a couple of months, I had replaced my waiting income, selling my raku wares. It was also about this time that my wife, Lynn and I learned of the intentional community where we now live outside of Weaverville. We built our home there in 1992. This is where my studio is now located.
RRM:What are your favorite pieces?
SF: The next one I make. I say this because I love to change, which is most often achieved through developing new glazes. This is something I started doing about 15 years ago. By developing my own glaze recipes, I’m able to create work that is uniquely mine.
RRM: The red coloring in your works has a warmth to it, as it balances with the kohiki (white glaze) extremely well. A lot of artists complain about working with the color red. What do you find to be the hardest part of getting the colors you want to work?
SF: Not sure about this one. I use very little white glaze and not much red. Personally, I love red, but it is a hard color to achieve in pottery without using cadmium or selenium, which are very toxic. Copper red is sometimes achieved in raku, but is mostly limited to stoneware or porcelain firing temperatures.
RRM: A lot of artists say living in the mountains of WNC fuels their creativity. What inspires your work the most?
SF: I’m inspired every day by the beautiful landscape, colors and textures I see right outside my studio. So, yes this absolutely fuels my creativity.
Steven Forbes-deSoule, who will be participating in the Weaverville Art Safari, is a member of Ariel Gallery.
Steven Forbes-deSoule
143 David Biddle Trail
Weaverville, NC 28787
(828) 645-9065