ARTIST STATEMENT       

      I have been trained and have worked professionally in both two dimensional and three dimensional art most of my adult life. I have been creating ceramic objects since I first began community college at the College of San Mateo, CA in 1966.  It was there that I was first introduced to ceramics by Vincent Rascone.     Clay has been an important part of my artistic evolution ever since and has provided many years of exciting challenges.

    I have taught Drawing, Design, Art Appreciation and Art History at Merced College, in Merced, CA, Delta College in Stockton, CA, and Modesto Junior College in Modesto, CA.   I also exhibit drawings and paintings as well as ceramics.  

     I am currently working on a series of self-portraits in both pastel and acrylic paint on canvas.  Two themes that I have used in my art work from time to time are the self-portrait and references to art history.   In this series I have combined both subjects.   The use of self-portraits has been a subject for artists throughout history, from the hand prints in the ancient caves of Europe drawn by early cave people, to the self-examinations that Rembrandt created throughout his life.   The obvious advantage of painting my own image is that no models are required and my image is always available when I need it.

    Over the years I have also experimented with many different styles of clay objects.   I have built figurative sculptural objects and I have made many different types of functional pottery as well.  I have experimented with different firing techniques and have built several different types of kilns.  I am currently using a kiln that I built that uses used vegetable oil as fuel.   

    My higher education began at the College of San Mateo where I received an Associate Degree in Art.    I also studied art at the California College of the Arts in Oakland.   I finished my studies in art at California State University Stanislaus in Turlock.   I was awarded a Bachelor’s Degree in Art, a print making certificate as well as a Masters of Art in 1990.

   My work has been shown in many galleries and exhibitions.  It also has been published in several books and periodicals. 

 

donhallworks.com 

PUBLICATIONS

Sculpture Techniques, Ceramic Arts Handbook Series

Pages 66 - 68
Tony Natsoulas: Thrown Portraits

Ceramic Art, Innovative Techniques: pages 19, 20 Multi-sides forms.

500 Prints On Clay: page 20

Animal Vessel

500 RAKU: page 61
Raku Gadget

Pottery Making Illustrated, May/June 2008

Tips from the Pros: Pages 7, 8   Beyond the Square

Pottery Making Illustrated, November/Dec 2007
Decorating All Over the Box. page 20 - 22

Printmaking Certificate.
Certificate awarded, 1979
California State University Stanislaus, Turlock, CA

Bachelor of Arts
Fine Arts, graduated 1976
California State University Stanislaus, Turlock, CA 

Fine Art Studies, Two Semester
California College of Arts and Crafts
Oakland, CA

Associate of Arts
Fine Arts, graduated 1969
Canada College, Woodside, CA

CREDENTIALS
California Community College Instructor Credential,  Fine and Applied Arts and Related Subjects. 

​ACADEMIC EMPLOYMENT

​Adjunct Instructor 2002 - 2014

​Modesto Junior College, Modesto, CA

​Curriculum taught; Basic Drawing, Art Appreciation 

Adjunct Instructor  1995 - 2005

Delta Community College, Stockton, CA

Curriculum taught; Art History Survey,

Art Appreciation

Adjunct Instructor 1989 - 2002

Merced College, Merced, CA

Curriculum taught; Illustration, Design, Figure Drawing, Art History Survey, Art of the United States

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