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W e l c o m e
All of the pottery sold here is one-of-a-kind,
the contents of this site will change as pieces
are purchased. I hope you will stop by often.
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Many-maybe even most-makers of functional pottery use a pottery wheel to create their cups, bowls and vases. This gives their work a uniform, symmetrical look and feel that is very appealing and highly desirable. But this is not how I choose to work with clay. My work is neither uniform, nor symmetrical. I am a hand builder, and my pottery has a unique organic quality that is equally as beautiful as it is functional.
There are many methods of handbuilding; I use slab techniques, almost exclusively. My slabs are made by throwing a portion of wedged clay onto a board on my studio floor, repeatedly, until the clay has flattened into the desired thickness.
This slab of clay is then transferred unto a work table where it is impressed with one or many Southeast Asian fabric blocks and/or hand designed stamps, until I am satisfied with the resulting patterns. Then cut to size and shape, the embossed clay piece is drape molded over any number of forms; feet, arms and handles are added as appropriate, the edges are cleaned and smoothed. Once dry, (in about ten days-two weeks) the pottery is bisque fired in a kiln.
After the bisqueware cools it is ready to be colored. I paint colored slips (liquid porcelain clay mixed with mason stains) onto the pottery surface. The piece is then fired at a much lower temperature, for a very short time to set that color, before adding another layer-or two to the pottery. I always fire between each additional layer of color to ensure that the slip does not "crawl" during the glaze firing.
When I am satisfied with the results, the pottery is then coated with a clear glaze and carefully loaded into the kiln for the higher temperatures of the glaze firing. The process for pottery designated as tableware is now, complete.
For the last year, I have been experimenting with metallic glazes. NOT food safe, this technique adds a touch of gold or luminescence to decorative pieces. More and more of my vases and lamps shine with this additional layer, and a fifth firing.
The Artist's Statement
Making art is the absolute best high I know.
I’d rather be making art than: go white water rafting,
climb mountains,sky dive, scuba dive,
drive fast cars,
ski, sled, or snow board;
I’d rather make art than sing and dance (although, they ARE a close second), eat chocolate or drink (really good) wine. I’d rather make art than shop. I’d rather make art than be a millionaire-although, I believe I could handle both. I'd rather make art than own a leather sofa.
Should my world be falling apart, but a line moves
just as I want it to, or I find the perfect word, the right
texture, pattern, image, color, metaphor, then all is well.
Any day I make art is a good day. Everyday I make art is a good day.
