Painted plate, Sicily
Painted bowls by Hal Haines
PAINTERLY PLATES
A well-traveled friend of mine returned from a deep and dreamy dive into Sicily with the gift of a lovely hand-painted plate. It quickly became a most-favored kitchen item, its decorative strokes dancing around fruit of complimentary colors. I fell under its Sicilian spell and soon needed more. Little did I know (but would soon discover), a young British potter would spin my world around with his whimsical ceramic designs. Allow me to introduce you to Hal Haines.
Hal has traveled the world photographing people and places, with a keen interest in visual storytelling. This has influenced his illustrative approach to surface decoration and the themes he explores within his ceramic pieces.
Hal Haines in his studio
Painted wood dish by Hal Haines
Inspired by London’s V&A ceramics gallery, Sicilian antique shops and his Grandma Ann’s Sunday lunch tableware, Hal juxtaposes classical silhouettes with contemporary subject matters and decorative techniques. His work references film, history and the natural environment.
In designs for Paul Smith, he created a series of platters and lampshades depicting far-flung, lesser-known fairytales. Studies of seasonal changes on an English flower farm is the inspiration for a set of ceramic platters titled Flower Farm for London-based concept store Couverture & The Garbstore.
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