MAY 31, 2013 | BY JC MILLER

 

On a recent Saturday road trip to San Diego we had the good luck to visit artist Josh Herman in his studio. Herman’s work which mixes heavily textured volcanic glazes in bold colors with strong forms has a mid century modern feel, but he goes well beyond retro reinterpretation. I’ve long admired his pottery, so I jumped at the chance to meet him and see his work space.

Despite the fact that we were unexpected visitors, Josh was a great host and gave us a full tour. His library of glaze samples was impressive and it was clear from our conversation that he knows his stuff. The clay mixture used in his pieces is custom blended to his specifications and he keeps detailed records that allow him to produce a huge range of colors and textures. The variety of products that come out of his studio is impressive and includes vessels, sculpture, and even light fixtures. I’m hoping that one of these days we can find the right garden for one of his monumental sculptures.