Biography

Rosalie Wynkoop is currently a studio artist in Bozeman, MT. She spent the last 14 years as a resident artist at Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts in Helena, Montana. She received BA degrees in Art Education and English Literature at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana and a BFA in Ceramics from the Kansas City Art Institute in Kansas City, Missouri. She has taught numerous workshops on majolica techniques around the country and exhibited her work nationally. She received an Artist's Fellowship Award from the Montana Arts Council in 1999. Her work appears in many publications including Best of Pottery books I and II, Susan Peterson's, The Craft and Art of Clay, A Ceramic Continuum, Cups, and Pitchers.

Artist Statement

My work is about embellishment, unabashed, over the top, no boundaries embellishment. I thrive on a more is more aesthetic and feel most true to myself when I can take the decoration to an extreme adding layers that result in rich bold surfaces with elaborate designs. Because I change my mind as I paint I am often pleasantly surprised by a hint of what went on beneath the surface.

I have gleaned much of my aesthetic from the elaborate décor of the Roman Catholic Church. The intricate designs, bright colors, and gilded accents of my work are reminiscent of stained glass windows, golden tabernacles, brocade vestments, and baroque architecture of my childhood experience.

My love for embellishment takes me through a multi-firing process. After the initial design is painted and fired to cone 03 on the white majolica base glaze I enhance the painted surface with a fine line, or shift the color with a little china paint; use a thick dab of enamel for accent or hint of decal to compliment my detailed design. Most pieces are lacking without the addition of gold. All of these techniques require an additional firing in the range of cones 016 to 018. Each piece goes through anywhere from 3-6 firings to achieve the rich surface I find so alluring.

 

* back to Rosalie Wynkoop's gallery page