Artisan
Liz Brownrigg ~ Gypsy Potter
Artistic Expression @ the age of 7
Finding myself in Clay '09
Enhancing Mother Nature's Beauty '12
About Me
Bio
Liz Brownrigg ~ a.k.a. Gypsy Potter is currently based in Sudbury Ontario.
Liz's primary medium of choice is working with Clay; Mother Earth is her biggest inspiration.
Some of Liz's biggest Artistic Achievements to date have been Accepting 3 International Awards, showing her work on TV, in Movies, and several International Magazines.
While Liz has been dabbling in the Arts since a very young age, she began her career in Clay just over 15 years ago. In Liz's words "I found myself in Clay".
Accomplishments
- City Line ~ with Colin & Justin 2021 & 2022
- ATIM Masters of Contemporary Art ~ September 2020 ~ (Virtual) NY, NY
- LST ~ Named one of the Top 25 3D Artist to Watch ~ Aug 2018
- ATIM Masters of Contemporary Art ~ International Award Recipient ~ April 2018~ NY,NY
- LST ~ All Women Art Exhibition 3D ~ 1st Place Award January 2018
- Art Tour International Magazine ~ Artist for a Greener Planet ~ October 2017
- ATIM Masters of Contemporary Art ~ International Award Recipient ~ May 2017 ~ Florence Italy
- Vale News ~ April 2017
- CTV News North ~ September 2016
- Sudbury Star ~ September 25 2016
- Ceramic Arts Daily ~ Spotlight April 2016
- Nominee for the Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts ~ May 2016
- Talent North Magazine ~ June 2016
- Slasher TV Series ~ May 2016
- Colin & Justin’s Cabin Pressure Season 1, 2014, Season 2, 2015 & Season 3, 2016
- Toronto Sun ~ 2014
- Huffington Post ~ 2014
- Breakfast Television Toronto & Vancouver ~ 2014
- City Line ~ 2014
- Nature Art Exhibition Special Recognition Award from LST ~ 2014
- Sudbury Living Magazine ~ 2013 Winter Edition
- Art Impact ~ Juried art Show 2013
Shows & Workshops
- Lunenburg Art Gallery ~ Lunenburg NS May 2020 (Rescheduled for a later date due to COVID-19)
- Art Tour International ~ New York, NY April 2018
- Interior Design Show (#IDS18) ~ Toronto Ontario January 2018
- Art Tour International ~ Florence Italy May 2017
- Parallax Art Fair ~ Chelsea London England October 2016
- Fusion Clay & Glass Works ~ 5 Korean Master Potters ~ June 2016
- Influential Women of Northern Ontario Awards 2016
- Sudbury Women’s Show 2011 ~ 2014 (Semi-Annual)
- Soup’s On ~ Sudbury Basin Potters 2007 - 2016
- Fusion Clay & Glass Conference 2014
- Sudbury Living Expo ~ 2012
- Mayco Pottery Workshop ~ Burlington 2012
- Raku Workshop ~ Sudbury Basin Potters 2011
- Wheel Workshop ~ 2009
My Medium
I have always dabbled in the arts, using many different mediums, such as acrylics, water colors and pastels; however, once I began using Clay I found the perfect artistic expression for me.
My Inspiration
Mother Nature is my primary Inspiration; she has provided me with an incredible supply of clay, it is such a forgiving and yet a temperamental medium that pushes me, as an artist. Clay allows me to create various designs, textures, carve, or even add multiple layers into the design.
History of Horse Hair Pottery
The origin of horse hair pottery is not known for sure but there is a story of a Native American Pueblo women that accidentally created the technique. As she was removing clay pots from her kiln the wind blew her hair and it came into contact with the hot pot. The hair created a pattern on the pot. This intrigued the women and from then on she tried using other materials such as straw, feathers and horse hair. The horse hair created the most dramatic patterns and thus horse hair pottery was born.
Another story tells of Native Americans creating horse hair pottery as a way to honor and immortalize some of their greatest horses.
Regardless of it’s origin, every piece of horse hair pottery is a unique piece of artwork that can never be replicated.
HISTORY AND TECHNIQUE OF RAKU
It was around the 16th century in Japan that RAKU (pronunciation rakou) took its roots, from the meeting of a tea master and a potter.
RAKU is distinguished by its rather brutal cooking method. Indeed, when the pieces have reached a temperature close to and sometimes just above 1000 degrees, they are removed while red-hot, then smoked in natural inflammable materials before being cooled suddenly in water.
The thermal shock causes a crackling unique and characteristic of the RAKU, the smoking (carbon) will penetrate these cracks and cause the earth to darken. After cooling, the parts are cleaned with an abrasive product to remove all residues of soot and ash.
If, in Japan, the RAKU was perpetuated during 15 generations of potters by remaining faithful to its tradition, the technique itself, in contact with the Western potters widened with the forms, while respecting this philosophy of ZEN.