Charles Belgarde Jr. began working in ceramics in the early 1990s, after years of experience as a painter. He credits his Native American ancestry with instilling in him a deep appreciation for color and shape — and an approach that has led him to work intuitively in the medium. His earth-toned vases, bowls and oversized platters also reflect a lifelong interest in metaphysics, often by invoking the magic of spirals and circles. Belgarde grew up near Minneapolis, Minn., and migrated to San Francisco in 1979. He maintains a workshop at Ruby’s Clay Studio in San Francisco.