[spring]

Ok, Top 5

First, Those wonderfull Tang potters for creating high fire ceramics, hundreds of years before England ever dreamed it was possible and illustarting the advances that could be achieved in the areas of tehcnology, skill, asthetics in times of peace and cultural support.

Second, Bernard Palissy! Transformed ceramics and created a niche as an artist, not just a craftsman, in a time when few artisans could transend there station in life and history.

third, George Orh- not just a bad ass potter with serious balls but crazy skills and glazes to boot.

fouth, the Natzler's for showing the beauty in the synthesis of line and glaze, making a bowl transend craft and become art

fifth, Voulkos- breaking the rules and opening minds, that a clay pot can be so much more

[Marcia Selsor]

Spring,
If you get a chance to read Palissey's biography if you haven't already , it is really interesting. ..especially when he is trying to reach temperature and tears up the floor boards from his house to keep stoking.
I saw a wonderful show of Palissey last year in Paris at the Louvre of Antiques (big antique mall near the Louvre). There is usually a piece or two of Palissey in the display windows of the various shops
but this was a show during the International Ceramics Academy meeting in Paris with 40 or more shows in town.
Marcia

[Benhim]

Each of the potters below have made an impact on my own pottery, except Junya Xiao I have yet to actually get into one of her workshops.
For individualistic style and self taught method, Patrick Horsley.
For contemporary surface decoration and utilitarian form design, Wally Schwab
For unique architectural form design, Don Sprague
For outstanding form design and glaze formulation, Val Cushing
For classic and contemporary Chinese pottery, Junya Xiao