Oregon Coast Council for the Arts welcomes Douglas County visual artist Bill Karcher in “Coastal Catch,” a series of sculptural ceramics in the Coastal Oregon Visual Artists Showcase. The exhibit includes a video of Karcher’s studio and process shown on the touch screen computer adjacent to the showcase (and viewable below):
Karcher received a gift when he retired from a thirty-year career in education teaching math, science, marine biology and forestry in Reedsport. This brought about a significant change in his life. “Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I was an artist. After receiving a carving tool for a retirement gift, I started on an incredible journey into art, from wood carving to clay because it was faster.”
Since Karcher discovered the medium of clay, he has been “obsessed with this art form from that time.” His inspiration comes from marine sciences that he taught for many years, but remarks, “an idea or visual that I like can send me in many directions.” His work takes many forms, but he tries to recreate fish in his work that are true to nature.
He and his wife, Mikayle, opened New Coastal Ceramics in Reedsport six years ago and now they say, “our passion is our business.” The studio offers classes in slab work, wheel, Raku, barrel fires or just painting a piece that you choose. More information is available at their website, coastalceramics.net.