Tim Martin
[ Lynn Lais ] [ Judith Nafziger ] [ Joseph Troncale ] [ Jewell Gross Brenneman ] [ Jane Graber ] [ Dick Lehman ] [ Royce Yoder ] [ Tim Martin ] [ Margaret Hudson ] [ Marie Harnish ] [ Ned Foltz ] [ Marvin Bartel ]

He graduated in 1990 from Goshen (Indiana) College with a degree in Natural Science, but returned the following year to complete an Art major.

Tim finds the opportunity to integrate his studies of science and art through the technical process of crystalline glazed porcelains to be very fulfilling. He has developed unique formulas for both the porcelain body and the crystalline glazes.

Each piece is a one-of-a-kind hand-thrown form with an unrepeatable crystal pattern, truly a dialogue between the realms of science and art.

Crystalline Glazed Porcelain

Frost forms on your window when the outside temperature drops below the freezing point of water. If this happens quickly the water on the window will freeze into tiny ice crystals or frost. However, when the water cools slowly, the conditions permit crystals to grow much larger and they take on delicate, feather-like patterns. A similar process is used to grow these crystals.

Just as frost forms on a window, when matte (non-glossy) glazes cool, many tiny mineral crystals form producing a matte finish.

The crystalline glaze is applied to the porcelain piece and is fired to approximately 2350° F. The crystals form as the glaze is cooled slowly through the mineral’s “freezing” point. This may take as long as 24 hours. The mineral, Willemite, freezes in the liquid glass at around 2000°F. The result is a unique array of beautiful crystal designs, truly a one-of-a-kind creation.