William Baker

EDUCATION

—University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, Washington

APRRENTICESHIPS AND RESIDENCIES

—Resident Artist, EnergyXChange, Burnsville, North Carolina

—Resident Artist, Odyssey Center for Ceramic Arts, Asheville, North Carolina

PRIMARY WORK EXPERIENCE

2013—Studio potter, Windsong Pottery, Bakersville, NorthCarolina

BIOGRAPHY

William Baker is known for wheel thrown pieces that are made using either stoneware or porcelain. Included in his production are lidded jars, small bowls, plates, keepsake boxes, vases, dinner plates, cups, and larger vessels. Pieces range in size from several inches to nearly 18 inches high. Baker frequently fires in the atmospheres of soda and wood kilns. His design elements include squared panels and corners, bulbous squared knobs and lipped base foot rims. Some pieces are dipped in a flashing slip while others are left raw clay surface. Typical colors include varied tones of deep red, soft peach, light cream, bronze, olive green and muted gray. Occasionally a few small sea shells are impressed into the surface to create firing patterns and an impressed pattern.

Baker first encountered clay in college, at University of Puget Sound, and has been a potter since. He and his wife, Joy Tanner, are full time potters in North Carolina.  Baker is a member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, and the Toe River Arts Council.