Peter Pincus | Peter Pincus Ceramic Artist | Episode 22

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Peter Pincus is a ceramic artist and instructor, making brightly colored vessels in his home studio in Penfield, NY. He received both his BFA (in 2005) and MFA (in 2011) from Alfred University. Peter exhibits his work locally, regionally, and nationally.  His work can be found in numerous private and public collection as well as published in Ceramics Monthly and Pottery Making Illustrated.

WHAT DO YOU DO TO KEEP YOURSELF INSPIRED AS A POTTER?

I don’t really have to stay inspired to make new work. The work is sitting years ahead of my ability to produce it right now. I work long, long hours and being inspired to work itself is difficult. When I’m really lacking inspiration I go upstairs and spend a little time with my daughter, who is now two and is experiencing the world in this way that any adult can’t experience and can’t remember experiencing. It’s just this wonderful, wonderful thing. And so I just watch that and I look at that and I know I need to get back to work and try to experience the studio the way that she’s experiencing the world. If I need a lot of inspiration, I might take some time off and play music.

WHAT ARE ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE TOOLS TO USE WHILE YOU ARE MAKING?

Of course, I use exact o knives. I use them like crazy. I have 3 exact o knives that were made by a friend’s father and they are probably the most important things in my studio. I wouldn’t want to make my work without them. They conform to my hand really well and they are specifically placed in my studio.

WHAT KIND OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE WHO WANTED TO BE A POTTER?

Respect history but don’t make the mistake of defining pottery only by it because that can become problematic. We are a point where the world is moving forward in so many different ways and the traditions and history of pottery as valuable as they are would be so much more valuable if they were developed through innovation.

BOOK

Interaction of Color-Josef Albers

CONTACT www.PeterPincus.com 

Peter Pincus on Instagram : peterpincusporcelain