Artist Statement
I never tire of making objects in clay. As someone whose curiosity
pushes me forward, I am caught in the pursuit of the unattainable
... to make the perfect pot. But it's a medium which defies perfection.
And there are so many things to learn.
I approach form with the eye of a designer and surface decoration
through my experience as a painter. As I work through ideas, I often
sketch them on paper first. A thought becomes something two-dimensional.
Using a potter's wheel allows me to build on those illustrations.
I try to subtract elements from the design until I have a simple
piece that continues to hold my visual interest. It's a fine balance.
I am fixated on making circles.
My aim is to have the work be not about function, but rather, to
bring about a certain state of mind, to stimulate the imagination
or induce meditation. In that way, the objects are better able to
communicate my ideas than any words I might use.
Assorted
Vases
9 to 10 inches tall
Assorted
Vases
9 to 10 inches tall
Bowl
7 inch diameter
Bowl
5 inch diameter
Bowl
12 inch diameter
Bowl
7 inch diameter
Bowl
7 inch diameter
Teapot
6 x 11 x 6 Inches
Teapot
6 x 11 x 6 Inches
Cups
Larger images below
Mug
Black and White
Mug
Drip Taper
Mug
Half Moon
Mug
Open Style
Yunomi
Drip Taper
Mug
Open Style
Biography
Donna Partridge was raised in Manitoba and lived a corporate lifestyle
in the clothing and design industry before an impulsive move in
1990 brought her to British Columbia. Introduced to clay when she
returned to art school, Donna was seduced by the simple, contemplative
process of making objects with her own hands. After graduating from
Kootenay School of the Arts in 1999 she moved to East Vancouver
where she works from push studio, located on the waterfront at Stamps
Landing.
Donna Partridge makes ceramic objects that reflect her love of contemporary
design, a near obsession with throwing pots on a wheel and the beauty
she sees in our natural landscape. Her black and white forms create
a strong contrast, and the modern silhouette becomes a frame for
her painterly surface decoration achieved when glaze becomes molten
in the firing process. Strongly influenced by Asian ceramics and
modern Scandinavian design, Donna Partridge makes tableware that
combines minimalist shape with intriguing surface details.
