Belinda Hardin

Earthtones Pottery
Functional stoneware

My work as a potter is inspired by nature, history, function. The earth tones of my home state of North Carolina are present in my pallet, reflecting the swirling blues, greens and browns of nature. The tradition of pottery throughout history as well as today’s society needs influence my choice of forms. For me, each piece of pottery is deeply connected to the four classical elements—earth, water, fire and air—and to the powers of the creative process that blend them together into a form reflective of both art and function. Ultimately, it is my hope that the pottery I create becomes a source of beauty and usefulness for members of my local community.

Artist Bio

My pottery career is comprised of two phases – (1) mid 1980s-early 1990s and (2) 2016-present. In the mid-1980s, I learned my trade as a student and studio assistant to Marie Summers. During this time period, I also took an influential workshop with Barbara Gonzales, the great-granddaughter of Maria Martinez, where I learned how to make burnish, pit-fired pottery. Almost all my work during this phase was burnished earthenware or porcelain fired in a variety of traditional methods. In 1998, I received a BA in fine arts at UNC-Greensboro with a concentration in ceramic design and began producing glazed work. In 2016, I retired from my faculty job and immediately re-entered the pottery world. Since then I have participated in numerous local art shows.