Andrew Otis, Potter
Andrew Otis is a potter working out of his family’s pottery studio in East Jordan, Michigan. He is currently experimenting with 3-6 foot tall decorative vessels that take a great degree of physicality and strength to create. These large-scale forms become canvases for unique carving and glazing styles. His pots are fired in wood, electric and gas kilns, all which offer a variety of atmospheres resulting in unique and unusual surfaces.
His work is influenced by his parents, who are potters that use natural, earth tones as well as Asian-inspired design.
Andrew Otis
Don’t only practice your art, but force your way into its secrets, for it and knowledge can raise men to the divine. ~ Ludwig van Beethoven
This quote from Beethoven resonates with me, as I strive to delve deeper into ceramics and explore new ways of creating. Though I spent many years honing my technique as a production potter, it has only been in the past three to four years that I have learned to develop larger vessels.
As I have grown in my experience and understanding of working with clay, I have been able explore the creativity and freedom allowed within the medium.
Crafting works on a larger scale creates a fuller surface to carve into, which allows for more designs and more creativity than I might find on a smaller piece. Oftentimes the images and designs carved into the vessel will be assimilated with the sculptures that I mount on top of the vessel, creating a seamless work that connects naturally. Living in a rural area certainly impacts my subject matter, as the serenity of working in a studio in Northern Michigan allows for a close interaction with the pastoral.
Clay is derived from the earth, so there is a natural expression of nature themes—a bond between the earth and the rest of nature, trees, birds, fish, and other animals. I feel that all nature and all art nods to our ultimate creator, whose beauty we see all around us.
As I seek to create beauty in my own works, in my own way, I strive to bring glory to our creator, God, and in so doing to understand his passion for creation even more. As I experiment with larger and more intricate designs, I seek to grow closer to the magnitude of the one who made all.
