Barritz began working with clay in 2006. Early on he was able to apply the skills that he had developed in his professional career as a software designer to his process of working with clay. From conceptualization, visualization, choosing optimal solutions – to the hand-built pieces that became final works.
His work has evolved since 2006. Barritz’s pieces have moved further away from functional forms, that focused on the use of surface texture and decoration, toward pieces that are clearly sculptural. Many of his designs are composed of repetitive elements.
Each piece takes a long time to complete. The bulk of the effort goes into getting the design settled in his head. He is often inspired by architecture. While the construction phase might take 8 to 15 hours, it’s relatively straightforward, and consists of assembling elements according to a predetermined plan. It’s a kin to doing the framing or brickwork of a building.
The final pieces are fairly rough, and use a single glaze. Although all of his sculptures are in a high fire clay, many of his newer works resemble other materials. Many pieces could be mistaken for metal, with a green patina, much like a weathered copper roof.
He plans to continue exploring the many possible permutations of individual elements, their relation to one another, and overall form. Barritz’s work is very sophisticated and prolific.
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