Bottle by Tom Coleman
- Title: Bottle
- Artist: Tom Coleman
- Medium: Porcelain thrown with two different shino glazes, one poured over the other
- Size: 32"h x 11"w
- Added to collection: 2016
- Donor: Purchased by Portland Community College, Rock Creek Campus
- Campus: Rock Creek
- Location: B9/1 Hallway gallery rm 115
Ceramic vessels can be both functional pots and sculptural metaphors. This earthy, curvy and asymmetrical vessel is a good example, grounded with a small foot and expanding generously upwards and outwards in irregular undulating swings, culminating in a comically narrow opening at the top. The surface is comprised of complex and warm earth tones – smooth and rough, shiny and matte, fluid and grainy, evocative of sudden rainfall in the Nevada desert (where the artist keeps his studio), as well as of the human body.
"First and foremost I believe one must have a true love of the medium. Second, I believe in quality, the highest one can achieve to their ability. Third, since I was trained in the classic Japanese tradition I think that pure form, composition and balance must be learned before one can attempt such things as sculptural or asymmetrical pieces." – Tom Coleman