Bianca Pintan
Byron Bay-based ceramic artist Bianca Pintan injects energy and texture into her ceramic pieces – letting her inner child guide her work.
Photography: Hande Renshaw
Ceramic artist Bianca Pintan in her Byron Bay studio. Photo: Hande Renshaw
Bianca Pintan's ceramic pieces are bold, bright and expressive. Photo: Hande Renshaw
Bianca Pintan's ceramic pieces are full of energy and colour. Photo: Hande Renshaw
‘I love doing what I feel like doing; shaping new pieces, or designing future work, adding texture, mixing colours, applying colours into the work, packing and unpacking the kiln.’ Photo: Hande Renshaw
‘A normal day in the studio changes depending on what stage my work is, but I always start by opening the studio to let the light in and then I can start working on a new piece or continue working on what I was working on the day before.’ Photo: Hande Renshaw
‘I love closing my eyes to see how my new pieces feel or just let the work guide me.’ Photo: Hande Renshaw
H&F: Hi Bianca – has art and making always played a big part in your life?
Bianca: Absolutely, I’ve always been drawn into art and beauty. Growing up in a farm connected me to art created by nature and made all that wasn't created by nature stand out and catch my attention. I’ve always been curious – I like to stop and look deeper into things, whatever form of art that might be.
Tell us about your creative jouney…
My creative journey started in my childhood and kept developing as the years went by. I loved mixing things from ingredients that would make a cake until chemicals used for cleaning the pool, which could not go together as they would create an explosive larva like substance!
But on the level of creating art, it started by following my intuition and exploring clay. I’m passionate about the process… since I first touched raw clay, I couldn’t get enough of it. And it’s the same today. I love closing my eyes to see how my new pieces feel and just let the work guide me. What I love most about my creative journey is being free – it feels so good to let go of rules and just go with the flow, exploring and playing like children do, without thinking too much. At times there’s lots of thinking and planning but when I’m creating, it's about feeling, observing, touching and connecting with the medium.
What does a ‘normal’ day in the studio look like for you?
A normal day in the studio changes depending on what stage my work is, but I always start by opening the studio to let the light in and then I can start working on a new piece or continue working on what I was working on the day before. My process is free and flows off what I’m vibing on the day. I love doing what I feel like doing; shaping new pieces, or designing future work, adding texture, mixing colours, applying colours into the work, packing and unpacking the kiln, creating videos, taking photos, packing orders or cleaning the studio or responding emails and messages. All the processes can be part of a normal day and other normal days I can spend doing just one of the many things I mentioned. I’m not a systematic person, I try my best to be organised but sometimes it’s more like a creative chaos!
A piece of advice you would give to a ceramic artist starting out?
Don’t be afraid of trying out anything, simply follow your intuition and be playful. If you are having a good time exploring and being present, the consequences will be great. Mistakes are a learning experience, welcome them in, as they are unavoidable.
What do you love most about what you do?
I love everything about what I do – I love creating new pieces, I love the silence of my studio, I love learning about my process and myself, the introspective aspect of creating art and being able to share it with the world. I love how what I do connects me with incredible people.
‘I get immersed into it [creating] and often lose track of time when creating. It’s the kind of work that brings me into the here and now, connected with the moment.’
“What I love the most about my creative journey is being free. It feels so good to let go of rules and just go with the flow – exploring and playing like children do, without thinking too much.”
For Bianca Pintan, the carving process is one that is incredibly meditative. Photo: Hande Renshaw
Bianca Pintan's studio is a wonder of colour, form and texture. Photo: Hande Renshaw
‘At times there’s lots of thinking and planning but when I’m creating, it's about feeling, observing, touching and connecting with the medium.’ Photo: Hande Renshaw
Do you think living in Byron impacts your work?
Being in Byron has definitely impacted my work, since life here it's so simple and easy. I’m surrounded by nature, my studio it's so peaceful and I create to the sounds of the birds and sometimes the waves breaking, a walk or beach swim is always inspiring in itself. It also somehow pushed me to show my work online and worldwide, as there are not many places to show my work here.
What has been your proudest work moment to date?
Creating for Cartier has made me the proudest to date – they chose me to create for their newest flagship boutique in Sydney, for their VIP room, where the most special jewellery is handled. It was an amazing experience creating the pieces and seeing them in place at the grand opening! The fact that I JUST finished the pieces a day before delivering them due to challenges in the process, weather and changes on the deadline added to it and made me extra proud of my accomplishment.
What forms and shapes are a constant in your work – why do you think you gravitate to these forms?
Fluid forms with curvy shapes are always present in my work, I feel like they’re just natural and flow naturally as I’m creating them. There’s an element of imperfect and uniqueness in each shape, which happens naturally and brings personality into each piece.
You have recently started experimenting in new shapes and form and a new direction, are you enjoying the evolution of your work?
I love experimenting, I have so many ideas to explore – I enjoy seeing how my work has evolved over time. I notice that I keep refining details and to me it seems like my latest pieces are always my favorite pieces. When I look back into my older work, I’m surprised about how much it has been evolving and it only feels like the beginning!
What’s in store for you this year?
I’m working on a few projects for this year, which it's pretty much full already. A special commission for an amazing brand in New York (I can’t tell much more at the moment), a new collection to be released in a few months, amazing commissions going to 5 different countries… I am also exploring a new medium, which I’ll share later in the year.