Robert is a ceramics studio founded in the early 1970s in California by Robert Turner, who was inspired by traditional Asian pottery techniques. Turner’s signature style features simple & elegant forms with subtle glaze variations, often using earth tones. His pottery is highly regarded by collectors and is known for its quality craftsmanship.
The Beauty and Craftsmanship
In Brevard, North Carolina, Robert Turner established the Robert Turner Pottery in the late 1970s. Turner, a skilled engineer, developed a love for pottery and started creating useful items for family and friends. His art soon became well-known, and in 1979 he established his first studio.
Beautiful glazes, distinctive patterns, and meticulous attention to detail have made Turner’s pottery a household name over the years. Today, Robert Turner Pottery enjoys a devoted following and is present in houses and galleries across the country. Turner passed away in 2012, but his studio is still run by his wife, Janice, and their family, so his influence endures.
What Are The Different Types Of Pottery That Robert Turner Pottery Produces?
The pottery produced by Robert Turner Pottery includes both decorative and functional items. Mugs, bowls, plates, teapots, and jars are examples of utilitarian items that are made for daily use. These items are typically made from a hardy stoneware or porcelain clay body, and they’re frequently glazed to be both aesthetically pleasing and useful.
Vases, wall hangings, and sculptures are examples of decorative items that are mainly created for aesthetic reasons. These items may include different methods like carving, stamping, and painting, and frequently have intricate designs and glazes. In general, Robert Turner Pottery creates items that are both aesthetically pleasing and functional, reflecting the long heritage of American pottery-making.
What Are The Different Colors And Designs That Are Popular Among Robert Turner Pottery Pieces?
For various tastes, Robert Turner Pottery offers a range of hues and patterns. Rich green, conventional brown, and cobalt blue are a few examples of classic hues. Modern patterns like brushed designs, geometric forms, and abstract patterns are also becoming more and more well-liked.
Many of the items have elaborate carvings, and others have elaborate handles or lid knobs. Each item is given a special touch by the glazes that are used; some have a glossy finish and others have a matte texture. Overall, Robert Turner Pottery’s selection of hues and patterns makes sure that there is something to fit every taste and aesthetic.
How Did Robert Turner Studio Condition Shape His Work As A Potter?
The environment in Robert Turner’s pottery studio had a big effect on his creations. The natural aesthetic of his pottery was inspired by the remote setting of his studio in the Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts and the use of a wood-fired kiln. His glazes frequently contained regional ingredients like clay and wood ash, which produced earthy hues and surfaces. His pieces’ varied hue and texture can be attributed in part to the distinctive wood kiln firing process. Turner developed a distinctive style that is highly sought after by collectors and fans of his work thanks to his dedication to the traditional methods of pottery-making and his own artistic vision.
What Were Some Of The Highlights In Robert Chapman Turner’s Long And Fascinating Career As An Artist?
Potter and artist Robert Chapman Turner had a lengthy and fruitful career, with many high points. He founded Robert Turner Pottery in 1960, which gained fame for its ornamental and functional items. He also had a solid reputation as a professor, having held positions at schools like Ohio University, the University of Georgia, and the Penland School of Crafts.
Turner earned numerous honors and recognition for his work over the course of his career, including a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts in 1981 and the North Carolina Award for Fine Arts in 2002. Numerous shows have included his works, including those at the American Craft Museum and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
His involvement in popularizing salt-glazed stoneware in the US was possibly one of his most important accomplishments. He is recognized with bringing back in popularity among American potters this age-old technique. He was also well-known for experimenting with glazes and firing methods, which produced new and distinctive hues and textures in his pottery.
Turner continued to create and instruct throughout his later years, doing so from his studio in Brevard, North Carolina. He is remembered as a pioneer in American ceramics and a master of his trade, and his creations are now highly prized by collectors and art enthusiasts equally.
Was Turner Involved With The American Craft Council?
Robert Chapman Turner was active in groups similar to the American Craft Council. He belonged to the Boston Society of Arts and Crafts, the American Craft Council, and the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts. Additionally, he served on the boards of the Worcester Center for Crafts and the Worcester Craft Center. He also acted as a juror for a number of exhibitions, including the annual exhibitions of the American Craft Council. His participation in these groups and initiatives aided in the advancement of studio pottery as a discipline and the acceptance of craft as an acceptable means of creative expression.
In What Ways Does Robert Turner’s Pottery Reflect The Art Pottery Movement From The Early Part Of The 20Th Century?
The art pottery movement of the early 20th century is reflected in several forms in Robert Turner’s pottery. He frequently uses handmade, one-of-a-kind, not mass-produced items in his work. In order to achieve various colors and textures, he employs a variety of glazes and firing methods, which is reminiscent of the experimentation and innovation that were typical among art potters at the time. His emphasis on both decorative and functional pieces also reflects the art pottery movement’s interest in fusing beauty and utility. Overall, Turner’s pottery is a contemporary take of the art pottery movement that honors traditional methods and aesthetics while also fusing them with modern elements.
How Is His Work Similar To Or Different From Other Ceramists?
In terms of a dedication to craftsmanship and the creative process, Robert Turner’s work is comparable to other ceramists of his period.
Turner’s distinct color palette, which features vivid and strong hues, as well as his creative application of glazes and forms, make his work stick out. Turner’s work frequently pushed the limits of what was considered traditional, producing modern pieces that still had a link to the past, unlike some ceramists of his time who were more concerned with replicating traditional forms and designs.
I think Turner’s work has been appreciated for its practical qualities, producing beautiful and useful objects, which was not always a focus for other ceramicists at the time. Overall, despite some similarities to other ceramicists of the same period in Turner’s work, his unique use of color, shape, and function distinguishes his creations.
To What Extent Does Robert Chapman Turner’s Pottery Fit Within Decorative Arts Studies?
A major component of the Decorative Arts movement is the pottery of Robert Chapman Turner. His artistic output is a reflection of the wider Decorative Arts tradition, which places an emphasis on the aesthetic appeal of functional objects. Turner was interested in making items that were both beautiful and functional, and his pottery combines form and purpose.
He frequently used conventional pottery methods, like wheel throwing and glazing, and his work incorporates elements of the Arts and Crafts and Art Nouveau movements. Because he frequently integrated painterly techniques into his designs, his pottery also shows the influence of his training in painting. Overall, Turner’s creations serve as a testament to the importance of pottery in the heritage of the Decorative Arts.
What Are Some Examples Of Unique Works Created By Him During His Lifetime That Illustrate Key Concepts In Pottery Making Today?
Robert Turner’s Ancient Pot Collection
His “Ancient Pot” collection, which is influenced by classical Greek pottery, is one of Robert Turner’s most well-known creations. These works demonstrate Turner’s extraordinary talent for capturing traditional forms and methods while fusing them with his own contemporary views.
Pottery items from Robert Turner’s “Ancient Pot” line were produced in the 1980s. Turner found inspiration for the collection in the ancient urns and vessels he had seen in historical locations and museums. Turner deliberately crafted irregularities in the shape and surface of each pot to give them the appearance of age and history. These pots were made using a mix of wheel-throwing and hand-building methods.
The “Ancient Pot” collection is noteworthy because it exemplifies Turner’s fascination with historical pottery and his aptitude for fusing conventional methods with modern pottery. The collection also exemplifies the broader tendency among 20th-century artists to draw influence from the past and innovate on tried-and-true techniques. In addition to his singular creative vision and technical proficiency as a potter, Turner’s “Ancient Pot” collection demonstrates his profound knowledge of and respect for the pottery of ancient cultures.
Robert Turner’s Crystalline Glaze Series
His “Crystalline Glaze” series, which displays complex and delicate crystal patterns on smooth, practical vessels, is another illustration. Turner’s proficiency in both the technical and artistic facets of pottery making is highlighted by this method, which requires a difficult firing procedure. Both of these collections show Turner’s aptitude for fusing conventional methods with modern aesthetics and design, making him an influential figure in the ceramics industry and an example to modern potters.
The pottery in Robert Turner’s “Crystalline Glaze” set exemplifies his mastery of the crystalline glaze process. The procedure includes coating the object with a glaze that has a high zinc content; this causes crystals to form as the object cools in the kiln. Each piece has a distinctive and complex pattern as a consequence of this process. Each of Turner’s works is genuinely unique because of the various hues and shades that frequently appear within the crystalline pattern.
This specialized method, which takes a lot of knowledge and practice to perfect, is what makes the “Crystalline Glaze” series unique. Turner frequently uses large, imposing pieces for this series, emphasizing the intricate crystalline patterns with dramatic shapes and vivid colors. Their distinctive beauty has made them highly sought after by collectors and enthusiasts. They are both useful and decorative.
The “Crystalline Glaze” collection as a whole is evidence of Turner’s technical mastery and creative vision. His ability to combine shape and function with a special and exquisite technique distinguishes his work from that of other ceramists, as shown by the collection.
References
American Studio Ceramics: Innovation and Identity, 1940 to 1979 Martha Drexler Lynn 2015
Robert Turner: Shaping Silence–a Life in Clay: “Robert Turner is one of the most important ceramic artists in the United States today. Distinguishing himself in the art pottery movement of the sixties, Turner rose to prominence when he moved from functional pieces to sculptural forms and began to create a body of work notable for its dynamic yet serene forms.” “In this first monograph on the artist’s long and fascinating career, Marsha Miro has taken a maverick approach with her incisive text, interspersing telling comments from Turner himself with her own explorations of the artist’s achievements. Much weight and thought is given to the creative process as revealed in her extensive interviews. A second essay by ceramicist Tony Hepburn provides a personal commentary on Turner’s art, while Janet Koplos, a senior editor at Art in America, contributes a reflective introduction.” “Illustrated with pivotal works spanning the artist’s distinguished career, Robert Turner – Shaping Silence not only relates the compelling story of a young artist’s journey toward formal mastery but furnishes essential documentation on one of the most intriguing periods of the American crafts movement. Artists, collectors, and students will find this volume inspirational, and invaluable on many levels. by Marsha Miro, Tony Hepburn 2003
