Nicholas Bernard

Nicholas Bernard has several bodies of work: low-fired earthenware, which is wheel thrown, with applied slip layer producing underlying texture and pre‒firing application of multiple layers of atomized colored slip and post-firing application of a copper oxide. Each object frequently has multiple firings, some work is raku fired. Bernard has also worked in porcelain, with layers of slip and glazes, high-fired in a reduction atmosphere. The traditional vessel form is his vehicle.

Influences are many ranging from classic forms of antiquity and simple, graceful pots made by the indigenous peoples of the southwestern United States, Africa, Japan, as well as the work of modern studio potters.

The study of 2000 year old pots in a Rhodes, Greece museum provided great inspiration.

He says that "Form is everything; I stretch clay to make canvases for decoration. Texture, pattern and color are successful additions when the shapes are impeccable. My inspirations are many, from the classic forms of antiquity to the simple, graceful pots made by indigenous peoples and the work of modern studio potters.

This current body of work deals mostly with simple clean form. Dramatic color, graphic pattern and subtle texture accentuate what I hope is a mastery of the traditional vessel form regardless of the clays and firing."

SOURCE - https://www.themarksproject.org/marks/bernard (Aug, 2025) & www.nbernard.com (Aug, 2025)