Steven Forbes deSoule – Raku with lush hues

 

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Ballard Vista – Steven Forbes-deSoule

 

 

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‘Blue Salmon Space Rock’ globe – Steven Forbes-deSoule

 

 

Exotic raku master

 

Gazing at the free form patterns and natural colours of a raku pottery finish is like looking at the colourful atmosphere of a mysterious world. Steven Forbes deSoule raku pieces are no exception and present exotic vistas that invite wonderful intrigue. He introduces more green and blue hues, in addition to the typical earthy reds and orange raku colours, in the reduction process to enhance the colour diversity. He uses the raku standard of a steel rubbish bin for a reduction chamber, which I always view as a fantastic irony, relative to the glorious outcomes from raku firing.
Steven Forbes deSoule has been a successful raku pottery artist for over 37 years, creating unique, hand made vessels and sculptures, while finding endless ways to manipulate the oxygen, gases and glazes during the raku reduction technique, to achieve a myriad of attractive outcomes. His intricate firing process and use of his own glazes and underglazes, with multiple firings, leads to ‘one of a kind pieces’ displaying beautiful enriched colours and textures. “The one constant with my work throughout the years has been transformation. I find it fun and challenging to try new things, and I especially enjoy developing new glazes. I started firing exclusively using the raku process in 1982 and found the element of serendipity and surprise to be invigorating.”

 

 

Steven Forbes ovoid raku vessel

Steven Forbes-deSoule

After resigning from his corporate position in 1975 and returning to study at the Georgia State University, on a whim he took a pottery class, which blossomed into a Masters of Visual Art and Ceramics.
He set up a home studio at Atlanta in the 80‘s and has been creating pots and sculptures ever since. In 1992, Steven and his wife Lynn, built a new home and studio outside of Weaverville in the mountains of western North Carolina. The entire ground floor of their home is a studio. “ I am truly blessed to awaken every morning surrounded by Natures’ beauty and feeling excited about going to work! (downstairs)

 

Steven Forbes-deSoule Website

 

 

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Globe – Steven Forbes-deSoule

 

 

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Steven Forbes-deSoule

 

 

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Removing the raku pottery from the hot kiln

 

 

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Cre Ur blue dolphin cremation urn – Steven Forbes-deSoule

 

 

 

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Raku Urn – Steven Forbes-deSoule

 

 

 

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Crimson ikebana vessel – Steven Forbes-deSoule

 

 

 

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Earth & Sky — Raku Pottery by Steven Forbes-deSoule

 

 

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Steven Forbes-deSoule

 

 

 

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‘Grande Pear’ – Steven Forbes-deSoule

Height 24 inches

 

 

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‘Nebulae from Hubble’ -Steven Forbes-deSoule

 

 

 

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Winged Vessel  Steven Forbes-deSoule

 

 

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Steven Forbes-deSoule

 

 

raku-ceramics-by-steven-forbes-desoule Ikebana vessel

Log Ikebana 2 With Cup Kenzan (Frog)

 

 

 

raku-ceramics-by-steven-forbes-desoule Wavy bowl with torn rim

‘Wavy bowl with torn rim’ – Steven Forbes-deSoule

 

 

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Raku globe – Steven Forbes-deSoule

 

 

 

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‘Space Rock Monolith’ – Steven Forbes

 

 

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‘Winged Vessel 2’ –  Steven Forbes-deSoule

 

 

 

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‘Space Rock Globe 2’ – Steven Forbes-deSoule

 

 

 

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Salmon pink raku globe –  Steven Forbes-deSoule

 

 

 

steven-forbes raku platter

Raku platter –  Steven Forbes-deSoule

 

 

 

Green space-rock-with-ripples - Steven Forbes-deSoule

‘Space rock with ripples’ –  Steven Forbes-deSoule

 

 

 

forbes-desoule-cosmos ceramic urn globular

‘Cosmos’ – Steven Forbes-deSoule

 

 

 

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‘Landscape Platter’ – Steven Forbes-deSoule

 

 

 

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Raku lamp base – Steven Forbes-deSoule

 

 

 

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Jade globular vessel with narrow neck -Steven Forbes-deSoule

 

 

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Tiled raku wall art and globe vessel – Steven Forbes-deSoule

 

 

 

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Steven Forbes-deSoule

 

 

 

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Tiled raku wall art – Steven Forbes-deSoule

 

 

steven-forbes-de-soule lidded ceramic vessel

Lidded raku vessel – Steven Forbes-deSoule

 

 

teabowl- Steven Forbes-deSoule

Tea Bowl  – Steven Forbes-deSoule

 

 

 

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Mountain sunset raku – Steven Forbes-deSoule

 

 

 

 

 

NEXT POST   —  Exploring light on the full moon

4 Comments

  1. Lib Menger
    Posted December 12, 2016 at 6:51 am | Permalink

    Glad you made it. I still have my GSU “duck” bowls and use them every day. No, you can’t have them back, if you can remember back that far. All best, Lib

  2. Posted January 19, 2017 at 8:22 pm | Permalink

    Beautifull colours.

  3. Malcolm Donald
    Posted March 7, 2017 at 5:40 pm | Permalink

    Hi Steven, I am a Raku potter based in Ireland, this is the first time I have seen your work and have to say I am blown away with the glazes you use, you are truly a master at your craft.

  4. Posted October 12, 2017 at 11:39 am | Permalink

    Steve seeing the images of this collection of pieces has blown me away. They are lovely, amazing and have a spiritual essence that I appreciate in all of your work. I look forward to seeing your work at the Guild Fair.

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