New to Artclectic
Former USN student
“I'm inspired by the beauty and complexity of the natural world,” begins Ryan Ghertner. “Wheel throwing transforms clay into a tactile representation of the consistency and grace of physics and chemistry. The way we as people perceive and experience this art demonstrates the wondrous relationship between the physical world and our conscious experience of it.
“Everyone appreciates art in their own unique way, and this inspires me to create all kinds of things. It's fascinating to me to see how people's experiences differ. The cycle of creating and receiving feedback not only enables my creative process to evolve, it also never ceases to surprise me.”
The most inspirational place I've visited is Hueco, Texas. The delicate balance of the desert ecosystem there I found deeply meaningful and reflective of the delicate beauty of life. I hope to reflect this in my artwork as well. The ancient cave art I saw there bowled me over. It's profoundly inspiring to realize that people have been communicating through art about everything in life for so long. It also reminded me of the fleeting nature of it all. To me, the limited nature of our ability to express our experience doesn't take away from that expression, it makes it all that more important.
I'm guilty of almost never naming pieces. Maybe it's less common with pottery. But naming pottery could be just as relevant as with paintings or other works. One piece, I named "Like Snowflakes" because frozen in the glaze surface were tiny crystal formations. This is called a microcrystalline glaze effect, and has always reminded me of the way water also creates crystal when it freezes.
There are many artists I look up to and admire. I don't think I'd want to take any of their places. In a world surrounded by such talented and inspired creators, I just hope to be among those who not only taps into something deeply meaningful, but also who finds a way to share this positive experience with others. My favorite potter is relatively unknown and no longer working. Although I love his work, I hope to keep pushing our tradition forward for many years to come.
