Russell Akerman Please click on each image to see an enlarged version with a description. Use your "back" button to return to this page. The inspiration for much of Russells work comes from studying the origins and evolution of pottery from various cultures worldwide. Russell has a particular interest in the aesthetics of various thrown forms and the challenge of creating them on the potter’s wheel. He combines this with the philosophy of working in harmony with materials and their natural physical characteristics. The swelling out of a pot from its foot to its shoulder and back in again, if kept within certain proportions, is generally pleasing to the senses. These proportions seem to be quite common to many cultures throughout most of antiquity and tell us a great deal, not only about the history of pottery, but also about ourselves. Born in Hampshire and raised in St. Ives, Cornwall, England, Russell by natural cultural inheritance found much inspiration from the vernacular styles of 18th & 19th Century English Country Pottery. The fluidity, honesty in shape & form, and integrity in manufacture, makes this tradition a historical high point in skill and craftsmanship. Russell is also inspired by oriental pottery, in particular from China; this vast country with its rich ceramic heritage has produced some of the finest examples of fired earth ever made and is always a rewarding visit for new creative ideas. When working with clay he likes to combine tradition with innovation, in finding, that creativity takes place somewhere in the space between the two. This combination of the familiar with the unknown is his preferred mode of work, which he finds to be an exciting and creative interface where new territories can be shown on familiar landscapes. This approach to creative composition draws significantly from both artistic intuition and visual observation of the natural world. These themes can be found in his work by the interplaying of flowing mathematical curves with contrasting bold statements in color and texture. For pricing and availability of ceramics by Russell Akerman please visit our online store. Are you interested in commissioning Russell Akerman?
	Hand thrown bottle finished in a subtle 'Paris White' transparent glaze, fired on a pure white Earthenware clay body.	Earthenware with cobalt blue glaze with manganes speckles.
	Hand thrown vessels finished in a strong Blackware Mirror Glaze. Fired on a Terracotta, clay body.	Earthenware finished in "quiet white" tin glaze.
	Earthenware with honey glaze and speckles of copper green.	Hand thrown vessels finished in a strong Blackware Mirror Glaze. Fired on a Terracotta, clay body.
	Hand thrown bottle finished in a deep Cobalt blue glaze with random speckles of Manganese	Earthenware with honey glaze and speckles of copper green.
	Earthenware clay body finished in a honey glaze to 19th century design	Earthenware clay body finished in honey glaze to 19th century Yorkshire design. H40cm