2022 Anderson Ranch Scholarship Recipient - Pinch Pot Method
Anderson Ranch
Summer 2022
Process and Pinch Pot Making in Snowmass Colorado
Process vs Product
In the summer of 2022, I was lucky to get a scholarship from Anderson Ranch and Colorado College that let me attend a workshop in Aspen, Colorado. The class was taught by Paul Briggs, an amazing ceramic artist known for his hand-built forms and thoughtful approach to clay. He teaches at Alfred University and has exhibited his work all over the country.
I spent two weeks there and ended up making more than 30 vessels. We focused on the traditional pinch-pot method — one of the oldest ways people have made pottery, dating back thousands of years. It was really cool to see how something so simple could be pushed in new directions to create organic, flowing shapes.
For my own pieces, I drew inspiration from the nature around us in Snowmass and from the classical shapes of Greek and Roman pottery. Before this, I had never worked with clay, but the workshop totally changed how I think about bringing themes of place, memory, and nature into 3D form.
I’m so grateful for the opportunity — ceramics now has a spot in my studio practice. My art is still mostly two-dimensional, focused on experimental screen printing and painting, but I try to work with clay at least once a month in open studio. I still have a lot to learn, but I’m really excited to see how this experience continues to shape my work. Big thanks to Anderson Ranch and Paul Briggs for such an inspiring time.
