Bernard Leach

Bernard Leach was a British potter who made lots of intricate types of pottery. Bernard was born on Hong Kong in 1890. His interest in art originally began in Tokyo. Leach worked with many famous artists and some were even apprenticed at the Leach Pottery. The art work I have chosen to share was made by Bernard Leach. This piece of art is called the “Four Fish Vase. I chose this piece of art because I enjoy how simple it is but also how it paints a picture.” The shape of this vase is very similar to the coil pot I just made. Although Bernard chose not to have much visible texture, the glaze gives the vase lots of character. The colors on the vase remind me of the sea.

Bernard Leach blog

Bernard Leach was born in Hong Kong in the late 19th century and had a relatively tough childhood. His mother died at childbirth and his father died when he was 17. He promised his father that he would pursue a career in banking and soon after his father died, he headed to Manchester to enter the banking industry but soon after working as a clerk he became disillusioned with the career so he decided to pursue art. Around 1908 he moved to Japan and this is where he was introduced to ceramics and fell in love with the art. Leach's pieces are truly beautiful and well organized. I picked this bowl because I like the flaring rim and the fluting from the rim to the foot of the bowl. The interior incised design is also unique. 

Blog #2

Hello everyone, I hope you are having a great week. Here we are again, but this time we are talking about Bernard Leach. Mr. Leach was known as the father of British studio pottery and was born in Hong Kong. What I thought was interesting about Bernard is that he continued his art work until the year 1972 and even continued to write about ceramics when he lost his eyesight. The picture I attached below is one of Bernard's large plates with a design of a Griffon on it. The plate caught my eye because I liked the unique pattern and color of it. I have never seen a plate like this ever before and thought it was very cool.  

Bernard Leach

This dish is known as the "Tree of Life" was made in 1923. This was created by Bernard Leach, who created his own pottery place known as "Leach Pottery". Leach Pottery is one of the most dominant potteries around the world. I chose this dish  because of the tree. I recognized this tree because a lot of jewelry places also have the "Tree of Life" in their collection. I have seen plenty of necklaces and bracelets that have this symbol (tree of life). Also, I enjoy the amber glaze he used on the plate to create an African art look to it. Additionally, the tree reminds me of an ancestors tree because of all the links between the limbs.

Blog #2 Bernard Leach

Bernard Leach

The vase above is called the Four Fish Vase by Bernard Leach. Leach was known as the "Father of British studio pottery." Bernard Leach was born in Hong Kong and was brought to England when he was 12 years old by his uncle. Leach after a few years returned to Japan with the intention of teaching Japanese etching. While in Japan he decided to follow the path of ceramics. He learned throwing, brushwork decoration in the ancient style and firing techniques. The above vase is done by throwing on the wheel. Colored lithograph is also used on the vase. The design is clean, simple, yet elegant. 

Bernard Leach

This Pottery is made by Bernard Leach called the Tree of Life.  Leach was born in Hong Kong and loved the Japanese style of pottery. This artwork was made in 1923 of a construction of a traditional Japanese wood burning kiln. Leach focused on traditional Korean, Japanese and Chinese pottery, with a combination of art, philosophy, design and craft. In 1940 leach had defined and crafted a philosophy and techniques in a potter's book. I had choose this pottery because it was a very well made pottery and looks like it had taken leach a long time to make. It is very interesting how he designed and carved the tree of life into the clay to make this amazing look of a tree.  The glaze also makes it stand out and look beautiful. 

Benard Leach

  Bernard Leach was born in Hong Kong but bounced from Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore after his mother died and had to be taken in by his grandparents.  Leach was raised by his father after he turned four and maternal grandparents.  Leach did not do well in school, but he excelled in drawing and promised his dad that he would seek a career in art before his father died from a terminal illness.  Some of Leach's friends from art school actually told him about pottery and they are the a big reason for his start in pottery.  Although Leach had a difficult personal life growing up, it does not reflect in his artwork.  His artwork is clean, beautiful, and organized.  All of his work is just as pretty as the next, but I am more drawn to this bowl because the shape is very unique. It is almost like an upside down unfinished vase, I also really like the sides of the vase because it gives the structure more texture.  The bottom of the bowl is also really pretty, I'm not sure if it is clay but I really like the different color and texture it gives the bowl.