About Hamilton Williams / Philosophy

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I have always placed great value in solitude and contemplation. When I was young, I would paddle out onto the lake by our home in the cool morning hours before the mist had lifted and drift through shades of blue and grey. As the sun rose, the silver fog turned golden and began to fade, revealing a wooded shore as far as the eye could see. Those moments were my chance to breathe more deeply and to look inward.

As I grew into a love of pottery, I found that craftsmanship both needs and provides a similar measure of inner calm. Shaping the clay requires thoughtful gestures of the hands while the mind of the artisan remains centered. A few moments working alone in the studio quiets my spirit as well as drifting through fog once did. This sense of peace is what breathes life into my work and informs the shapes that I create. My forms are simple, with classic lines and carved textures that enhance form rather than distracting from it. The colors of my glazes are deep, saturated, and intense... blues and purples that are remniscent of the mountain landscape, mossy greens, and deep oxblood reds. This combination of form, texture, and color create pots that are strong and rich yet do not demand attention. My pots are content to quietly serve their purpose and wait until they are noticed.

In a world that increasingly demands our time and attention, quiet moments are precious. It is my hope that having and using my pottery daily will provide you at least a small measure of the quietness I feel as I work. With my pottery, I give to you a moment of quiet contemplation. So please linger over your morning coffee or while preparing your evening meal and give yourself a little room to breathe, a little time to think.