Tobias Tomlinson

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Title: Iris Vase

Year of Creation: 2007

Glaze: Crackled celedon glaze cone 6

Clay Body: Cone 6 porcelain oxidation firing

Dimensions: Height 10.5 inches, Width 7.5 inches

Artist's Statement: Tobias Tomlinson of the Avadon Pottery Studio has been a working potter for 37 years. He has a degree in Fine Arts from the University of Calgary. Some of his instructors include Harlan House, Hal Riegger, Jack Sures, Marilyn Levine, Roy Kiyooka, Santo Mignosa and Leopold Foulem.

Tobias was a member of the Jam Factory Pottery Collective in Nelson B.C. in the 1970's. He has been involved in several shows for creative jugs and teapots to the Cone Box Project, which traveled through B.C. He was one of the founding members of the Island Artisans Association and the Gallery of Artisans Cooperative (GoA). He is an active member of the arts community. In 2006 and 2007, he received an honorable mention award for the Look Show presented by the Community Arts Council of Greater Victoria.

Fire and ash traditional Japanese wood fired kilns used by the Tozan Society in their noborigama kiln, and the anagama kiln on Denman Island bring new inspiration to ancient techniques and skills. The translucent porcelain glows from within, while stoneware carries the flash from the flames.

The floral decoration of the Art Nouveau period, as well as the simplicity of the Mission Style era have influenced Tobias' work. The carved designs are reminiscent of William Morris, the Zanesville potters of Ohio and the Newcomb Pottery in New Orleans.