Artist Research Project

Carol Gouthro was born in Canada in 1952. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree for Ceramics at the University of Manitoba School Of Art (1976). After she graduated she moved to Seattle and started working at Pottery Northwest as a studio artist creating ceramics pieces. She is motivated by language, organic something random she sees (like a seed or flower), and likes paying attention to details. She also really likes sea life and big words associated with sea life because it leaves room for interpretation.

She uses a technique called handbuilding which includes coils, pinch pots, and slab building which we are now familiar with. This is the only form she used that I am currently familiar with.

I chose this artist because I thought her work was unique and different. I was drawn to the vibrant colors and use of different techniques/patterns. Her work I would say is the opposite of simplistic. It is complex and there are a lot of components to it. I also like how she pays close attention to details because it is like a whole different world when you zoom in and pay attention to the textures and shapes of things people sometimes just don’t notice. I especially like her Aurlia gouthroii series which I included in my slideshow. She highlighted different aspects of ocean life which I found fascinating. Her work is something you really have to examine and analyse. I also like how (like she said), the titles leave room for interpretation so that you can figure out what each piece means to you as an individual as well as trying to understand Carol’s mindset when she created these pieces.

https://accessceramics.org/collections/show/357 - Carol Gouthro images