Florence, AL

Ceramics

Web site

My name is Alan Burch. I am a ceramic artist. I live in Florence, Alabama but sell my work all over the United States. I am originally from Texas but have made my home here in Alabama. I have created art all my life. However, for the past 5 years I have dedicated my time and skills to creating clay art. I graduated from the University of North Alabama with a BFA in Ceramics in May 2004. I have been a full-time artist ever since. I mainly work in stoneware in the medium to high firing range. Once in a while I like to do raku or earthenware firing just as an escape from the stoneware temperatures and techniques I use to make my high-fired work. I create my work on the wheel with lots of post-throwing manipulation. I tend to use lots of textures from stamps that I make myself. My work tends to have a sculpted feel to it. I make my own glazes in the high-fire range. My Patchwork Series and Dream Series bodies of work have been shown throughout the state in several art galleries and art museums as well as in Texas and Tennessee. I don%u2019t do a lot of art festivals as I tend to mainly show my work in Galleries. I have done around 5 festivals in the past two years with great results. It%u2019s nice to get out and demonstrate on the wheel and educate the public on the pottery process and how much it has changed into an art form rather than just a craft. I have taught clay workshops for the State Council on the Arts in Elementary schools and High Schools with an emphasis on arts integration.