Tina Doorn , Artist Statement and Bio February 2009
My studio is located in the country, so I have lots of nature to inspire me. Color and surface texture of the glazes I use on my pottery are very interesting to me. I continually search for that perfect color and texture of surface that reminds me of nature’s finest stones. The usefulness of a vessel is also an aspect I consider valuable. I love to create functional stoneware vessels that people can use in their homes for eating and drinking from themselves, for use when entertaining, or just a decorative piece that adds to the beauty of their home.
I have lived in Michigan all my life. I grew up in Southeast Michigan and went to college at CMU where I took my first pottery classes. After college I completed a 30 year career as a speech pathologist for the public schools. When I retired in June of 2000, I returned to my interest in clay that was sparked by the art professor at CMU. I began my “new career” by taking classes in the Grand Rapids area on how to throw on the potters wheel. I worked with studio potter, Mary Doezema, who taught me much about making glazes, firing a kiln, and running a pottery studio. Through many workshops, art and pottery classes, and reading books, I also learned other aspects of the craft such as hand building, working with extruded forms, and about the art of vessels. My first working studio was with The Urban Clay studio at the UICA in downtown Grand Rapids. I worked with a group of potters there for 5 years and then decided I needed a space of my own. I have been working in my own studio now for over three years.