Potter Of The Month at Association Of Arts Pretoria | Art.co.za Art Exhibition Listings

Christiaan Snyman studied fine arts at UP before studying opera at TUT and UCT. He worked at the City Opera of Koblenz, Germany for 6 years before returning to South Africa in 2016. He continued painting large floral studies and landscapes. During lockdown Christiaan experienced the strong urge to venture into something new, and started with pottery in June 2020, at the studio of Sharon Mitrie.

His current work is inspired by ancient Greek pottery shapes and the Acanthus leaf designs of classical times. Most of his work is executed in porcelain and porcelain paper-clay. For contrast he uses dark earthenware- and stoneware clay. Christiaan is a perfectionist and is striving to utilize the technical aspects of functional ware into more decorative pieces.

Nadine da Silva was always passionate about art and remembers painting, drawing, cutting and pasting in her father’s studio at the age of only 4. She and her father attended art exhibitions, workshops and auctions on a regular basis. Her first visit to a pottery studio seven years ago changed her life. She realised that she loved pottery and soon it became a passion. Nadine started creating different objects in clay. She experimented, attended workshops, researched and read about pottery.

She says: “It’s fascinating to see how one’s way of creating can change over time. Since working with clay, I have begun challenging myself. My creations will continue to evolve and change. Clay will always be my canvas and I will constantly push the boundaries of art.”