Drew Darley

https://roundtripclayworks.com

@roundtripclayworks

I am a full-time potter focusing almost exclusively on wheel-thrown vessels, emphasizing clean and refined forms. I prioritize chemistry along with the science behind mixing and formulating glazes. Every glaze is mixed in a small batch specifically for each piece. My work is influenced by my research on crystallizing materials. I started my glaze journey by studying crystalline glazes. I enjoyed finding different materials that would crystallize during the kiln firing. I found that firing multiple times and at multiple temperatures would manipulate the crystal growth. I emphasized a glazed surface with large primary crystals and a background filled with secondary crystal structures. With my current body of work, I explore metallic and iridescent surfaces. My goal is to create glazes that are unique and one-of-a-kind. I wish for a viewer to be drawn into the piece and question its material. The structures crystallizing in these glazes make it extremely difficult to replicate. For every finished pot, there are hundreds of tests and failed experiments that came before. Over time, as I test my glazes, I develop relationships with them. With each firing, I gain an understanding of the materials and how they interact with one another. Many firings are failures, but I am always able to learn something from the test and apply it to the next attempt. This is a part of my process that is bittersweet and at times frustrating, but is truly enjoyed. I hold my work to a high standard, always putting craftsmanship at the forefront of the process. I wish to reflect on my attention to detail and ability to push materials to their limit.

This collection of pots represents months of testing and re-testing glazes looking for a metallic and iridescent surface that constantly seemed out of reach. I am proud to share my new glazes now as I continue to develop them further.