The Mad Teapotter Studio

Artist's Statement

Since taking a summer art class at the age of six, I had always wanted to be an illustrator. Throughout my school years, I devoured every art class offered- ceramics, jewelry, whatever-but always came back to drawing.

My first experience with tile was in high school when I made some crude, 2x2" stoneware tiles in art class to frame a mirror I was giving to my brother and sister-in-law for a wedding gift. They warped (the tiles, not my brother and sister-in-law). I shrugged, presented them with their weird wedding gift and moved on.

It wasn't until I was married and working as a secretary in an ad agency when I realized that I would never be happy until I was working in art. In 1982, I entered the Colorado Institute of Art with the intention of becoming an advertising illustrator/designer. Fate struck one day when I found an ad for a part-time job at a tile studio tacked up on the school bulletin board.

Being able to "draw" on tiles was sheer joy-and getting paid for it was icing on the cake. I felt a little guilty, being paid to play all day. It was so much fun I quit school and kept on painting tiles. It had claimed me. After a year, I bought my own kiln, and have been painting on tile ever since. In a sense, I am still an illustrator. My canvas is ceramic; in place of gouache is glaze.

Being greatly influenced by the beautiful mountain surroundings in which we live, my tile murals are characterized by highly detailed wildflowers, insects and animals. We have recently installed a tile press in the studio which will soon be turning out carved and sculpted 3-dimensional tiles as well. I also dabble in glass and ceramic mosaics, which I plan to incorporate more into my mural work.

I don't have a fancy or profound "artist's statement". I just have a philosophy of my own, that is: We are only participants in this world for a short, unpredictable time. We may as well make our livings doing the things that bring us joy and touch our heartstrings; those things that make us get up each morning with eager anticipation for the day's work ahead.

Lisa A. Burt

The Mad Teapotter Studio
Lisa Burt
P.O. Box 184, Larkspur, CO 80118
phone (303) 681-2934
fax (303) 681-3964
email: TigerEye@worldnet.att.net

Text and Images ©1996 Lisa Burt

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