Geert Theunissen - Ceramist / Potter
Geert Theunissen was grown up in a typical family of potters. Still, it
didn't seem that he would
become a potter. He studied electronics, and then went to work in automation.
Only around forty, he was actively involved with ceramics. He bought a turntable
and a kiln, and
 |
| His father 'feeding' a wood fired kiln in Milsbeek |
took two years lessons in throwing. He also studied the technique of glazes
through self-study and experimentation.
The first few years he made pottery with red earthenware clay as his father and
uncles had always done. In recent years, however, he specializes in stoneware,
with an emphasis on working with crystal glazes.
Characteristic for his work is the strong contrast between the forms and the
glazes.
His models are clearly inspired by the 'oriental' style as we know from the
early chinese dynasties,
and people like Leach and Hamada. These simple classic shapes stand in strong
contrast to the
crystalline glazes which he developes in an almost scientific way. The glazes
are calculated using
proprietary computer software, and fired according to a precise schedule in a
computer-controlled kiln. The combination of these intriguing glazes with classical forms
he has chosen deliberately. Acccording to his
opinion, crystalline glazes in combination with complex shapes quickly lead to
some kind of competition,
which is not a good thing.
Few ceramists venture into the application of crystal glazes. The technique is
difficult, and dropout
rates are high. Because Geert Theunissen does not depend on his ceramics for his
livelihood, he can
afford to make what he likes and not let him be led by commercial business
aspects.
Besides making his own ceramics, Geert Theunissen is also active on the Internet
by providing all kinds
of information about ceramics and pottery. For example, on his website
'www.geerttheunissen.nl' you can
find a glaze course and a description of the history of the potters of northern
Limburg. Also he
developed a computer program for glaze calculation 'GlazeManager', which can be
downloaded from this
website, and may be used by anyone freely.
(The glaze calculation program and the glaze course are in the Dutch language.
Het is currently working
on English versions of both. As soon as they are ready, they will published on
this website, of course.)