Meet Adrina Richard | Ceramic Artist

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

Hi Adrina, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
I have always been a risk taker. I don’t know why. Change is not strange or frightening to me. In my former “business” life I was always initiating and following through on change. It taught me that many people don’t like and resist change. So, I learned to coax it along to make it easier and acceptable. Or, dragging others kicking and screaming toward progress 🙂

Risk is what got me into clay. I had never done any artwork or taken any formal training. So, I guess I’m not afraid of making mistakes or being laughed at. It comes with the territory.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I hand build my stamped and textured forms with white stoneware and porcelain. The vessels reflect a contemporary, minimalist sensibility. I favor stains to highlight the texture in my vessels, and eschew glazes that overpower the form and its surface. I use glazes on the interior for contrast and functionality. My forms range from the functional to architecturally complex decorative vessels.

I started to make pots because I loved ceramics. Never having taken any art classes I was really intimidated but jumped in. MudFire was a unique studio where they taught one-on-one any time I went in. Starting with a challenge to make a teapot I made a really ugly, non-functional teapot. That started my journey. Signing up for workshops was my passion. I have taken at least 70 – 80 workshops both hands on and demonstrations over the last many years.

From there I learned to throw pots on the wheel and did that for at least 4 years, even teaching the wheel along the way. Realizing that I wanted to change the shapes of my vessels I switched to hand building.

The biggest lesson I learned along the way was not to give up.

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.
There are many art galleries, museums and studios to visit. Atlanta has a long street called Buford Hwy. It is unique. Many cultures have restaurants, shops and markets sitting side-by-side. Plaza Fiesta is an hispanic mall that has a set up like a street market in Latin America. I have taken many visitors to Plaza Fiesta and they are astounded.

We also have lots of neighborhood that are interesting. Civil Rights started here. There is a Civil Rights tour by Tom Houk (MLK’s driver) that we have taken folks on.

Downtown is interesting, but I find the neighborhoods, retaurants and funky places more so.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
MudFire Clayworks

Website: https://www.adrinaearthworks.com

Instagram: adrinarichard

Facebook: adrinarichard