The
works of ceramic artist John Cloutier have become a focal point of major exhibitions
throughout Western Canada.
Unlike other successful artists, however, he is known for his constantly changing
style, the result of continual experimentation with new images, shapes and methods.
John came from a family of Saskatchewan artists, father Paul and sister Jennette
are well known Painters. In 1972 while Attending University the musty smell
of the clay room prompted a switch to ceramics and in 1985 began firing in Raku.
The artist's ceramic method is Raku, an ancient Japanese art of firing which
produces sculptures with unique glazes and a characteristic black clay body.
"I love the spontaneity of the medium, the combination from delicate and sophisticated
to rough and primitive - all within the same piece. When you fire a piece, you
never know how it's going to turn out."
An accomplished chef and fly fisherman, Cloutier is inspired by many different
subjects. "I am an observer of shapes - in buildings, interior design, or something
as simple as a tree branch or a bent-over lamp post." He is also greatly influenced
by the art and spiritualism of the West Coast Indians. "When I'm feeling more
formal, I may look back at ancient Greek or Egyptian art work on the wheel.
I hand build more abstract pieces.
A fellow artist Alex Fong, an innovative watercolorist asked
me in the
summer of 1999 to do a show with him, with works that represent the
history of the Okanagan, a region of Canada best known for orchards
and vineyards.
Since apples were one of the major sources of the success in this region
in the early years I thought I would focus on the "Apple". The faces on the
pots represent some of the founders of the community.
The fireplace is an example of some of the tile work that I do, this one is
highly
textured with sculptured heads of artists passed and present, This commission
is
in the studio of another well known Canadian artist Roger Arndt.
Contact John Cloutier at:
Telephone: (604) 524-1942
Post: 333 East 8th Avenue, New Westminster, B.C., Canada, V3L 4K7
Email: lorna_cloutier@telus.net