Tom Bivins Pottery

Shape and Form

admin — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 04:32:11 +0000

Shapes fall into the realm of flat elements within the confines of composition or the parts of a 2 dimensional nature in composition.

Form refers more to 3 dimensional objects and objects within 3 dimensional compositions.

I have no idea where this piece is from but it is cool. Three dimensional form flattened into the artistic 2 dimensional format displaying the form of a fun female image outlined by a shape.

The pottery form has three dimensional relief forms on the surface of the pottery piece which is in the form of an altered traditional style.

Native Pottery Form

On the mend… Thank you!

admin — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 18:20:29 +0000

Thank you for your support over the past few months. My family and I are on the mend and in as good of shape as we can be. Yours truly is finally feeling a little urge to make artwork and pottery. Hopefully the fog over my creativity is lifting and once again the flow will be with me.

drawing

By Philip Rawson

admin — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 01:23:10 +0000

“One of the prime reasons why ceramics is such an interesting art is that it fills the gap which now yawns between art and life as most people understand their relationship.”

Philip Rawson, Author and artist of “Ceramics”

Author of “Ceramics”

By Paul Soldner

admin — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 00:27:21 +0000

“Before there was ART, there was drawing.”

March 9th Workshop Images

admin — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 07:16:53 +0000

Thank you again for attending this fun workshop. You made it a great experience for me.

Tom Bivins “Biv”

Thank YOU

admin — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 18:16:21 +0000

Thank you for all of your support over the two day pottery and art talk in Driggs this weekend. It meant a great deal to me. The positive feedback has been amazing. All of the best to everyone involved.

Tom Bivins

How to Throw Bigger Pots

admin — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:53:11 +0000

The workshop times and location for March 9th & 10th, are official. Friday, March 9th will be a slide show and talk from 6:30 to 7:30 PM at the Driggs, Idaho City Center on the corner of Main and Bates in the Senior Center room.

Saturday, March 10th, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM in the ceramics room at the Teton Arts Council building by the Driggs Airport.
The discussion and workshop will be about how to throw bigger pots on the pottery wheel. Those in attendance will discover the little known techniques, mindset and approach to making your pottery bigger. All levels welcome. Photo from the last time I was demonstrating pottery making at the TAC.

Pottery Workshop March 9 & 10, 2012

admin — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:55:02 +0000

I am excited to present a pottery workshop on how to make your pottery bigger and easier for all levels of potters and pottery enthusiasts. Friday March 9th, at the Driggs City Center kicks off the event with a slide presentation and talk about how yours truly arrived at the place where pottery techniques, mindset and approach have come together and how you can use these to make creating pottery easier.

Saturday a pottery making demonstration from 11AM to 3PM will happen at the Teton Arts Council in Driggs, Idaho. The focus is on super sizing your pottery while making it easier to throw pots on a potters wheel using little known techniques and skills. There is no charge for the March 9th & 10th workshop. Just a request from me for you to donate what you can to the TAC kiln project that will be building a special kiln and roof complex this summer.

Fun at the Archie Bray Foundation

admin — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 17:46:46 +0000

Are we having fun yet?

Biography From The Year 2000

admin — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 22:00:08 +0000

Moose on Teton Canyon Road

Earth air, fire water. These are the ingredients of pots and human beings alike, and each formula contains also the elements of chance. Do not seek perfection in pots or people, for your search will go un-rewarded and you will miss knowing many good pots and many good people…

The above quote, found in a sketchbook from a workshop, summarizes Thomas Bivins’ attitudes towards life and his work. Tom is currently an adjunct instructor of ceramics and design courses at Yavapai Community College, and works out of a home based studio in Clarkdale, Arizona.

Tom has studied at and received degrees from Chaffey College, Orange Coast College, California State University Long Beach and Northern Arizona University. He is one of the new generation potters combining commercial training with a formal education in Fine Art. The result is an expansive body of work with personality destined to be treasured.

Thomas (or “Biv” as his friends know him) has been involved with clay in one way another since the seventh grade. Although he often pursued other passions in life, the pottery and clay world captivated him. Along the journey, Biv credits school and his professional experience as a factory potter and designer for polishing his attitude toward ceramics.

The list of influences is endless; however there are a few that cannot go without mention: John Rothrock from Edison High School in Huntington Beach, Ca. Don Jennings at Orange Coast College, Larry Thomson and the crew from “The Studio Pottery” in Whittier, Ca. and Crispin Gonzales from Chaffey College.

Thomas adheres to the belief that it’s not where you’ve been but where you’re at that matters. Working with Mr. Tom Schumacher, getting to know the students at Yavapai College, and a wonderful relationship with his wife and daughter have put him in a special place. Asked to describe himself and his work, Tom said,”I’d rather let the work speak for itself.”

I no longer teach at Yavapai College and can only say it was a great time in my life. The students and staff made my life better and even to this day I am grateful for the great time there!