About Richard Aerni
I came to clay by accident. After a New Year’s Eve party in the early 1970’s, the room in which I had been told I could sleep turned into a gallery of wood-fired pots at first light. The colors and textures of the glazes captivated me. A couple of years later, when I found some free time from the restaurant in which I was part owner, I took a class at the local pottery…six weeks of Tuesday nights, 6-9 pm…it was enough to hook me.
Though I have no formal education in clay, or art for that matter, I have managed to make my living as a potter for over forty years. It has been my good fortune to share the company and talents of many an accomplished potter on my journey to competency in clay. All of them have left their mark on me, as have the many mistakes and false starts I have made along the way.
Artist Statement
It’s hard to know whether the work gets simpler or more complex as the years go by. On the one hand, I strive for forms which are forceful, striking, and clear. On the other, I aim for surfaces which involve multiple layers of slip and glaze. The successful piece marries the form and glaze in an interplay which engages the senses, reminding the viewer of the natural world about oneself and evoking an emotional response.
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