Painting and Pottery

During these last few weeks in the semester, I realized how closely related abstract painting and ceramics are. I'm beginning to believe that marks on the pot must go beyond decoration and become an intricate part of the pot. Decorating the pot is not enough. I must ask myself do the marks enhance or reinforce the message/meaning of the pot? A mark that doesn't respect the pot, something that doesn't reach down but only stays on the surface, shouldn't be there.

I found a good self-study book about creating abstract art at Pima's library. Instead of taking a summer course in ceramics, I might just pull out the oil paints and easel and revisit mark making.

The book is Painting and Understanding Abstract Art: An Approach to Contemporary Methods by Leonard Brooks.