Rikki Teresa Taylor

Rikki Taylor creates highly decorative and colorful ceramic wares using high-density white ware clay. Each piece is produced by hand. By throwing the individual pot on a potter’s wheel, using a hand building technique or some combination of both. The creative process starts with a lump of clay. The clay is wedged, that is, worked by hand, much like kneading bread, to get an even consistency and remove any air pockets. The clay is then slammed onto the wheel head of the potter’s wheel, centered and the desired form is thrown. Upon satisfaction, the wet piece is removed from the wheel head and placed aside for drying. When the piece is leather hard, dried enough to be handled and turned upside down, it is centered again and trimmed with sharp, flat wire tools to create the “foot”, that which the pot sits upon This creates an up-lifted and elegant form. The piece is then set aside once again to dry, this time to a “green ware” state. A design is created on the form using “slip”, colored clays in liquid form. The piece is fired in an electric kiln, called the bisque fire. When cooled, it is removed and a clear glaze is applied. The piece is fired once again, called the glaze fire. All work, from beginning, to fruition, is the sole endeavor of the artist. Rikki‘s ceramic career began in 1975 while attending college in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Rikki became totally immersed in the process. The endless creation of ceramic work and advances in the technical and safety aspects of clay, it was only a natural progression to move from the subtle earth tones of stoneware to the bright and dynamic colors of underglaze. Thus, the eclectic creation of fun, bright and colorful ceramic art. Notably Rikki ‘s work Running Man was purchased and resides in the Smithsonian’s Renwick Museum of American Craft.