This workshop includes an artist talk, demonstration and an opportunity for participants to try the Nerikomi technique themselves. This workshop is designed for adults 18+ with an intermediate knowledge of working with clay, perfect for ceramicists looking to learn a new skill. All materials, light refreshments, tea and coffee supplied. Please BYO lunch.

David Pottinger | Artist Statement

My work employs the ancient ceramic technique of Nerikomi, with a focus on refinement, precision, and the simplicity of form. Through this process, I seek to create objects that invite contemplation and evoke a sense of wonder, encouraging the viewer to enter a reflective and heightened state of awareness.

The earthy palette within my work references geological formations and layered rock strata, drawing connections between the vessel and the natural world. My artistic development has been influenced by teachers who valued simplicity, restraint, and refinement—qualities that continue to shape my practice today.

The linear patterns embedded within the clay serve as both structure and metaphor, echoing the rhythms and repetitions found throughout nature: the tidelines etched on a beach, the growth patterns of flowers, and the graceful fronds of tree ferns. These recurring motifs reflect the ordered yet dynamic qualities of the natural environment.

This body of work explores the union of technical mastery and aesthetic refinement. By marrying pattern, form, and process, the vessels aim to transcend their functional origins and create an experience that transports the viewer into a contemplative state.