Artist Statement
Art has been part of my life for over 30 years. I am a nonrepresentational ceramist, sculptor, painter, collage and assemblage artist. My 3-D art includes hand-building vessel sculpture, relief wall tiles, and other three dimensional objects. My 2-D art includes mixed media art with acrylic and oil paint, graphite, collage, sgraffito, sewing, found objects, birch bark, India ink, sailing charts, and more.
When I begin a piece, a progression of conscious and unconscious decisions start my process. Experimentation is important … feeling the force of my imagination along the way. Inspiration comes from my environment, travel, sketches, the great outdoors, books, conversations, museums, trash on the street, gestures, swimming, walking, antique stores and more.
Recently I finished a series of ceramic narrative vessel sculptures in a red earthenware clay body that I developed. My clay process has various steps with some pieces taking months to complete. The ceramic works are multi-kiln fired with terra sigillata (earth seal) and oxide patinas as well as silica glazes. They have a beautiful “ancient” look and feel about them. I spent years testing the possibilities of terra sig and oxide combinations to complete a library of 100’s of test tiles that I use as guides for color effects.
Currently I am finishing a series of nonfunctional, sculptural platters for the wall, tabletop or displayed on metal stands. In the meantime a variety of small sculptures with ceramic and found elements await my attention.
