Meet Tina Tan | Potter/Recreationist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tina Tan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tina, what do you think makes you most happy? Why?
I discovered pottery in the 1990s, and it has given me a lot of satisfaction. Growing up in the city state of Singapore which had an emphasis on the sciences all the time, I never really had much exposure to the arts. So being able to immerse myself in pottery is a way to find and expose that creative side. Something about making a functional piece that you can use on a near daily basis is inherently satisfying. Ceramics is an art that has so many challenges, from the initial mastering of the wheel, to learning about glazes and firing pieces. I’m also excited about opportunities for using clay as a canvas. I see patterns everywhere that inspire design ideas for my clay work. It could be just desert vistas, or rock art glyphs, repetitive patterns or color combinations. I find myself wanting to experiment and play with different ideas all the time – what will it look like in clay? What glaze combos? How to achieve that look? It’s all part of the fun of being able to execute ideas into functional pieces. It’s always a challenge, and there’s just not enough time in the day to get it all done.

There are many other things that make me happy. I grew up in Singapore, as I mentioned, which did not have much wilderness or outdoor activities. But I had read lots of adventure books as a kid, which got me fascinated by things like being in the outdoors – hiking, biking, camping, hiking etc. I wanted those adventures too!

Moving to Colorado changed all that. The many opportunities to be outside in a remote natural environment, whether by biking, hiking, camping, skiing or rafting. it’s all a respite from the daily grind, a chance to recharge, and soak in the views and ambiance of nature. To ground yourself, and realize how small you really are in the big scheme of things. And looking for rock art – pictographs and petroglyphs – is always a great activity as it gets us outside and exploring the past, and wondering about the enigmatic drawings left behind in the rock by those who were here so long ago.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I focus mostly on functional ware in my ceramic work, as I love the utility of handmade pieces. I play around with different design elements on clay, mostly simple, repetitive patterns, or lines with dots. I love incorporating color accents, and fine tuning the aesthetics. So I like to think that my pottery work is fun, both to look at/use and to make. In other words, “FUNctionalCeramics” (as in the name of my online ETSY shop).

We recently had a wood firing at Studio Arts Boulder, and I used some random brush work in black for the exterior decoration, and added red dots over the black strokes, just very spontaneously. It made me think of (stylized) red wing blackbirds, so that was a fun outcome of random brush splatters. This work is something that I want to explore more.

I began not knowing much about pottery except that I loved looking at it; holding it. Being amazed that someone made it. from scratch. Taking a class at the Pottery Lab (now Studio Arts Boulder) back in the 1990s started me on a trajectory I did not anticipate. The first few years of taking classes was spent voraciously practicing my throwing every free moment that I could, and creating various forms. As an art form, ceramics is something that has complex multiple layers – there’s learning to throw, and throwing different forms; there’s the glaze component – not just how to glaze a piece, but what goes into a glaze, the chemistry behind it; the firing aspect (electric, gas, wood fire, soda firing) all that. It’s a slow learning process unless you have a lot of time to devote to pursuing it. It can be overwhelming, but while I didn’t plan on it, I just slowly plugged away at it. It seems like there is always some other aspect of ceramics to learn, which makes it a lifelong challenge.

Lessons learned along the way – boy, there are so many. One that I’ve never been very good at, is to be patient, not to rush things (when throwing, or trimming, or glazing for example). Pottery also teaches you about letting go (that perfect plate developed a crack. Back to square 1 and try again!) And to keep experimenting, and trying different ideas and techniques.
Another big challenge for me was deciding to sell my work on line, and realizing the learning curve to getting it all set up was … huge! So I’m slowly working my way through figuring it out (SEO, Keywords, etc.) But the shop is up, and I’m learning more as I go along.

I find that my work blends different ideas. I enjoy working with specific design patterns, which is more controlled and consistent. But I also like making fun, fluid and spontaneous designs, which you get with random brush splatters. Ultimately, it’s the joy of creating and making something that is unique, different and functional.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Oh the possibilities! I think that’d depend on the season. Right now, it’s bike season, so I’d want to get them out on a ride or two, or three – there are so many fun rides – Jamestown, or along the Peak to Peak, or Centennial Cone. Since we are so close to a National Park, Rocky Mtn would be a good stop to do a hike and see the mountains. Hiking around the iconic Chautauqua Park is fine for another day, as the views of the Flatirons are a must see. Depending on water level, maybe do a float on Boulder Creek. For something different, visit the Iris Garden or walk through the Community Gardens as it’s always interesting to see what others are growing.

Of course, spending some time walking down Pearl Street, and bringing them to the Dushanbe Tea House as that has an interesting story of how it got there.

For good eats, the Rosetta is a great stop as they have a variety of options and we’re partial to the Italian and Middle Eastern food there. Also, Little Tibet, Sachi Sushi (if Sunday when they have Ramen), The Kitchen are all spots we like and would take a friend out to.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My shoutout would be to Studio Arts Boulder. I took my first class at this facility (then called the Pottery Lab, at the time), got quickly addicted and for a while, spent a crazy amount of time trying to master this new art. So much so that the Lab Manager at the time asked me to be a lab assistant. This was a great way for me to get beyond just throwing on the wheel; I also learned how to load/unload and run the electric kilns, make glazes, etc., which is an entirely different perspective on the operational side. Shortly after this, I became a Teaching Assistant, a great experience trying to help others with ceramic skills. Having to articulate how to do something is completely different from just doing it on your own. I couldn’t have been where I am today without Studio Arts Boulder; most everything I’ve learned is from SAB. Plus, it is also the place where I’ve met other amazing potters and become friends with many of them; it’s such a great community space.

Shoutout also to my husband, Bob, who has always encouraged and supported me in my pottery ventures. Plus being my ‘technical’ support for work with the kiln and other technical challenges with glaze chemistry and all that.

Aaron Winston, Artistic Director for Studio Arts Boulder. Under his leadership, Studio Arts Boulder has become such an open, welcoming place for all, and a great community to be a part of. Being a Teaching Assistant in Aaron’s class also meant I got to watch (and learn) from his demos and pick his brain for all my questions.

Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TTFUNctionalCeramics

Instagram: @ttan_functionalceramics

Linkedin: Tina Tan – TT Functional Ceramics Boulder (I don’t use this very much so I think that’s how you find me on LI)

Image Credits
Tina Tan