A study of mugs
- Ian is inspired by the bold style of Japanese manga
- He uses slab building to create his silkscreen printed tableware
- His pieces invite viewers to re-examine mundane moments and view them as art
Ian M. Petrie turns his wheel thrown ceramic pieces into canvases for his hand drawn comic-style illustrations, exploring the life and cityscapes of Philadelphia. His sturdy tableware, including coffee mugs, plates and platters, is designed for everyday use. After studying ceramics in high school and college, Ian traded wheel throwing for slab building and became interested in silk screen transfer as a way to decorate his items. He engages closely with his local community in Philadelphia, bringing streetscapes and local behaviour into his illustrations, which he feels suits his medium neatly. “There is something special about ceramics in the habitual nature of it. It enters into our daily lives very intimately,” he says. Ian’s pieces are exhibited in galleries and museums across the USA.
INTERVIEW
I enjoy constructing narratives from different sources. I will draw a person and a particular face they are making and turn it into a game. I imagine what the person might be saying and what is going on around them.
I have never been interested in superhero comics. I find there is something more satisfying about drawing these little snippets of life. In a way, they help us connect to each other. When people buy my pieces, they sometimes say that the characters remind them of someone they know.
I hated drawing in college. Then, at the tail end of my studies, I decided to cover a pot in comics. It meant that I had to learn to draw. I was a begrudging illustrator at the start but now things have changed. Sometimes when I am making pots, I would rather be drawing.
I love a good cityscape and enjoy drawing street scenes. I also find it interesting to represent the city’s mentality in the characters I draw. In Philadelphia, people have a lot of heart, but they are not afraid to speak their mind and be direct.
