biography
Ronan Kyle Peterson grew up in Poplar, NC, a small community deep in the mountains of western North Carolina. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and in 1996 received a Bachelor of the Arts degree in Anthropology, with a minor in Folklore. His interest in Folklore led him to John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC, where he began taking classes in ceramics and other media. After working for two years with two potters in the area of Asheville, NC, he attended Penland of School of Crafts. Initially, he intended to stay for a two month Concentration in Wood and Soda Fired Pottery with MacKenzie Smith, but two months turned into four years. After Concentration, Ronan applied for and was accepted into the Core Student program. During the two year intensive work exchange program, Ronan had the opportunity to study with a number of internationally known artists and craftspeople. Currently, he has a ceramics studio in Chapel Hill, NC, and teaches ceramics classes at Claymakers in Durham, NC, and Pullen Arts Center in Raleigh, NC. Ronan's ceramic objects have shown in local and national exhibitions.
the pottery
I work with earthenware clay that is fired in an electric kiln to 1944 F. My work is wheel-thrown, usually altered from the round while the piece is still wet and on the wheel. After allowing the clay to stiffen slightly, I often use wheel-thrown parts to construct my pots. I apply slips and underglazes and then carve textures, patterns, or drawings through these surfaces to reveal the red clay body. After bisque firing my work, I then apply glazes which enhance the carvings or I layer glazes to achieve certain textures and glaze effects. I draw ideas from comic books, insects, and the growth and decay of plants and animals. Through my objects, I hope to present a ceramic cartoon interpretation of some of the overwhelming visual and tactile information present in the natural world.
I was fortunate enough to be chosen as a Core Student at Penland School of Crafts for 2000 and 2001. While at Penland, I had the opportunity to attend classes taught by master craftspeople and artists in Drawing, Painting, Blacksmithing, Fine Metals, Wood-working, Bookmaking, and Ceramics. The time I spent there, within the Penland community, gave me the support, inspiration, and examples on how to be a successful artist and good neighbor. My Penland experience gave me the skills, confidence, and audacity to make the work that seems to be my own.