ClayHouston

Carol Berger

What clay body do you use?

"Clay bodies vary by project…. BMix 5 with Grog for students and cookware, Babu porcelain for decorative and Naked Raku, and finally Grande for large pieces like fountains."

Primary forming method?

"Hand-building is my favorite. When I throw I like to alter the pieces. I am working on piercing thrown work right now."

Primary firing temperature?

"Depends so much on the project…. Cone 9 reduction gives some awesome surfaces, and I love the immediacy of Raku!"

Favorite surface treatment?

"Carving and slip trailing create surfaces that show off layered glazes really well. "

"Honey Cones"

"Amazing"

"Preserving Landscapes- Pond's Edge"

"Tranquility Fountain"

Favorite Tools?

"My hands for sure, Diamond Core carving tools and the Sherrill ribs. I have also taken credit cards and cut them for specific jobs!"

Describe your studio environment.

"I am so lucky to have the use of our former game room. One door goes to the outside hose, one door goes to the glazes and kiln in the garage and the last door goes the house and the bathroom. Over the years I have bought used wheels, kilns, an extruder and a slab roller from other potters leaving the art. I have lots of space and light and love looking at Lake Conroe while I work."

"Carved vase"

"Window"

"Blue Bottom Copper Penny Flowers"

"Feather Vase" (Raku)

"Copper Fish"

How/Where do you market and sell your artwork?

"I am blessed to be a member of 2 galleries, Archway in Houston, and Gallery at the Madeley in Conroe, so I sell larger pieces there. Smaller work is sold at trade shows, online and by appointment from my studio."

"Spring"

"Turtle Vase" (Naked Raku)

What sparks your creativity? What drives you to work with clay?

"I draw inspiration from the designs, colors, and textures in nature. As an environmentalist and avid recycler, it is my hope that art reflecting nature will encourage other people to care for it too."

"Coil"

"Stripes On the Wild Side"

"Lakeside" (Fountain)

Did you come to ceramics from a different career? Tell us about your journey to a ceramics career.

"I spent 38 years teaching little people all the subject areas in public school. Retirement led to a move to Texas, a ceramics class at Lone Star College and thus the second career in ceramics. "

"Blowing in the Wind" (Naked Raku)

"Fish Dish"

How have you have taken your experience as a well-established maker in the field and passed that knowledge along to your other artists?

" I love teaching and when people in my area asked if I would offer ceramics classes, I said yes! I teach both adults and students in my studio."

"Family Ties"

"Tres Amigos"

"Squiggle"

What’s the best advice you’ve been given by a fellow maker, mentor, or teacher?

“Don’t fall in love with a piece until it comes out of the glaze kiln!!! Second… test, test, test!"

"Conoite"

"Platter"

"Shape Shifter"

"Flow"

Website URL and other social media platforms:

Website: www.artsbycarol.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArtByCarol

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artsbycarol/?hl=en

Bio:

Carol Berger has lived in a variety of places with most of her adult life spent in Southern California. Her art education began with her artist grandparents and various classes at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Berger has a double major in Art and Spanish from the College of Wooster and spent a year focusing on art history at the University of Madrid with side trips to France and Italy. After retirement from a career as a public school teacher, Berger took a ceramics class which led to a second career as a professional artist.

CONTACT US - Info@ClayHouston.org

Address:
PO Box 667401
Houston, TX 77266

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