Weaverville’s Raku Ceramic Artist

Interviewed by Dennis Ray

American raku pottery is a unique and magical form where the glowing hot vessel or sculpture is pulled from the kiln and placed with combustibles in a metal container. The can is then covered, smothering the flames. The results are always serendipitous and the pieces are truly one of a kind.

Rapid River Magazine: Tell us a little about your artwork and how it has changed or grown over the past, say, ten years?

Steven Forbes-deSoule: For those of you unfamiliar with my work, I’m a ceramic artist who uses raku as the firing method of choice. I’ve done raku exclusively for the last 32 years, so I’ve had a lot of practice. One thing I love is to be constantly looking for new forms and glazes to create.

In the past ten years, I’ve become more interested in altering forms as I create them on the wheel and I’m also doing more hand building than I was back then. I know that I physically won’t always be able to throw on the wheel, but hopefully, I will be able to create forms using slabs, etc. even in my 70s, 80s and maybe 90s.

I also love developing new glaze recipes. This is something I started doing about 15 years ago and I see it as a way of keeping my work looking new and fresh.

RRM: Tell us a little about what shape and form mean to you as an artist?

SF-d: Well, that’s where it all starts! A beautiful form is essential to a beautiful finished product. As a potter/artist, it’s then my challenge to make sure the glaze fits the form, completing its expression as an object in space.

My method of working is to create a series of forms that relate to each other and then after the bisque firing, glaze each one as it speaks to me. Of course, the raku firing is where the real serendipity comes in. Personally, I think the firing reflects my state of mind that day and consequently some days are better than others in terms of the results achieved.

RRM: How do you first create your work? Do you sketch it out or have an idea you keep in your mind for a while or do you create as you go?

SF-d: For the most part, I “create as I go” in that I have ideas in my head when I sit down to work. Many of my vessels are made on the potters’ wheel. The wheel is a tool for the potter, just like the violin is a tool to the musician. Throwing on the wheel is a learned skill. In fact, that was what first attracted me to ceramics.

I could see when I was first learning that one could always be a better thrower. As I sat there making my 4” cylinders I knew if I kept practicing, I would someday get better. It was a challenge that I needed at that point in my life.

I’ve come to the conclusion that learning a skill is the key to always having a way to make a living. Back to answering the question, I also sometimes sketch ideas, especially if it’s a new form that I haven’t made before. In the end, I find that one thing leads to another and even when I sketch something out, it changes as I work with the clay.

RRM: You are a very prolific artist. What drives you to work so hard?

SF-d: Actually, I work easy, not hard. When one loves what they do, it’s really hard to call it work. I rather think of it as play. That’s where the creativity comes from.

The appearance of being prolific comes from waking up every day and really looking forward to going to the studio. Fortunately, my studio is the first floor of my home, so there’s no stressful commute and I can start playing right away. And, there are virtually no meetings to attend and no one bosses me around (except for my cat). What a life!

RRM: How do you currently market your ceramic art?

SF-d: Presently, I’m doing 5 or 6 retail shows annually and as close to my studio as possible. I’ve learned, over the years, the closer I sell my work to my home/studio, the easier and more profitable it is. I’m very lucky that Asheville and Weaverville have become major attractions for craft and art lovers from both near and far.

On September 14, 2013, I’m hosting my exclusive 50th Firing Kiln Opening at my studio, where I’ll being firing the 50th piece created for this event during the afternoon and then giving it away in a drawing from attendees names.

This year I’m also exhibiting at the Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands in downtown Asheville, October 17th through the 20th, and will have my studio open for the Weaverville Art Safari coming up November 2nd and 3rd.

One big change for me a couple of years ago was becoming a member of Ariel Contemporary Craft Gallery on Biltmore Ave. in downtown Asheville. We’re a co-op and I’m honored to be showing my work with such talented artists/craftspeople.

Steven Forbes-deSoule
143 David Biddle Trail
Weaverville, NC 28787
(828) 645-9065
www.stevenforbesdesoule.com