Clay was not a common material for Rick Bartow, but to Charles Froelick's knowledge Bartow created at least 47 ceramic sculpture, and likely not many more. While not technically experienced with sculpting the media, nor with firing, his ceramic sculpture were highly animated and fine character studies. In 1996 he made a couple of clay human face masks based on a CPR doll, one of which is in the Portland Art Museum collection. Between 2002-2005 Bartow spent time each year making etchings, mixed media drawings and ceramic sculpture at his friend, artist Frank Boyden's Neskowin studio, and was there that Bartow made the majority of the 45 other known ceramic sculpture. Frank's support was instrumental in the production of the acid etchings and clay figures. Bartow attacked the wet stoneware clay intuitively, manipulating it somewhat ferociously as a plastic material, his unparalleled figuative skills led him to create works ranging from 3 inches to 24 inches tall. The series included crows, coyotes, human faces and stacked groupings of animal and human faces. He titled many of the series "For H. Bosch." Rick made eyes and teeth with Frank's porcelain shards, and sometimes smeared the works with a bit of wet porcelain for surface variation. Boyden eventually threw some cilyndrical forms which Bartow used to make taller works. Frank's expert anagama, wood-firing skills ensured their success in the kiln and an terrific range of surface textures.

This intimate crow figure has a distinct smirk; though modest in scale, Bartow imbued it with personality and charm. Bartow signed the bottom of this work with an oxide wash before firing.

In 2003, the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center, Portland, Oregon held held the exhibit “Rick Bartow: Through Many Eyes” and included some of Bartow's ceramics sculpture. Artist Lillian Pitt wrote about Bartow's ceramic figures for the exhibition:
"I have known Rick Bartow for 23 years. We have traveled to Japan and New Zealand together and talked a lot about our artwork and feelings about nature. He is an amazing person and one of the best contemporary artists I know. I feel his work is based on his belief that nature and people are one. He was asked to participate in an anagama firing by Frank Boyden and of course he said yes, even though he has a small amount of knowledge in working with clay. Rick has never been afraid to try something new. He just does it and moves on to the next project. I love the rawness of his crows and the spontaneity of the pieces. I admire the fact he made the bases for the crows despite his lack of knowledge of the anagama firing process where such forms warp, crack, or break apart. They look ancient and filled with a wise spirit. This is my friend Rick."

Several of Bartow's 2002-2005 ceramic works are in the collection of the Hallie Ford Museum of Art, Salem, OR, and some were exhibited at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Bartow's 2003-2004 solo exhibit titled "Continuum."