Andrew John Richards has been making for over 35 years and exhibited widely and sold through many established galleries.
He approaches the making of his vessels with energy and immediacy, working on the form and its surfaces during the process of making and drying. His application of slips and oxides alter the surface and the layering of materials added to the vessel emphasises the plasticity and surface qualities of clay whilst achieving the feel of a landscape.
He seeks to push the boundaries of the pot/clay to becoming an abstract object in the art ceramic sculptural world. He begins with thrown or hand built clay forms, he uses the wheel to shape the exterior surface. While he may have an idea and an understanding of the shape, it is through careful manipulation, alterations of the surface with clastic sedimentary stones and oxides that the exterior appearance of the vessel is derived. The Textures from the Earth series of work reflects the landscape of the Welsh mountains and Coastline.
The layering of 200 million year old clastic sedimentary stones, beach quartz, granite, brushed layered Anglesey copper and glazes adds colour and textural effects that are harmonious to each piece making each vessel unique and individual. He is collecting rocks and sedimentary stones from different parts of the UK and these will be incorporated into the vessels making them unique to that area of Britain, Scotland and Wales.
