Ross Richards

I have been developing this style of work for the last three years now and am finally beginning to feel comfortable with it as more and more of the rough edges are chipped away.

I have tried to make a style of work that is functional but telling of an ongoing search to express myself as a third generation pakeha. For me, the ties with Britain that my parents enjoyed have unraveled completely, so in a sense I am searching to understand my place in New Zealand today. I like to think that my work could reflect the flavor of other cultures, apart from our own Kiwi one.

Much of the decoration is inspired by the coastline close to where I live; places where water, rocks and boulders come together – ever moving and changing, full of mystery and power.

The decoration is made by first covering the outside of a piece with black stained clay; a design is then scratched through the surface of this covering to reveal the white clay below. This process is called graffito and has been used by potters for thousands of years. The pots are fired three times, the first is a bisque firing and the other two are glaze firings – each at a different temperature.