Artist statement

Evolving…surface & form:

My work in ceramics has been an on-going process of trying to be at one with the landscape, to feel the gestures present in nature.  I remember how, on the ocean coast, the haze and fog appeared to visually fuse rock and wave.  I was impressed with the reflection of sun as it cut a sharp crevasse of light in the dark mountain sky.  I noted the cover of snow, softening the mixed media of nature upon which it rested. 

Early on, I focused on the use of subtle color slips, using the contrast between dry earthy colors and the gloss of white porcelain. 

Subsequently, the focus of my work in ceramics has consisted of creating forms of abstract landscapes in low-fire terra cotta clay. The brilliant range of ceramic pigments at this temperature, in thick, juicy slips & engobes, continues to hold my interest. I am pulled in by the gesture of the medium. It becomes a celebration of color, floating in thickly applied slips over the rounding terra cotta form. The bowl, plate and vase forms are where I capture image fragments from the expanding landscapes of my international travel experiences. Recently, I have created more texture by adding paper pulp and string to my slips, which has increased the depth of my surfaces. These are a hybrid, made from recycled slips and vitreous engobes.  

The concept of the landscape for me, is constantly changing, along with the warming of the planet, weathering storms, and decaying infrastructures.  I find myself centering in on decay and repair of urban and rural landscape. Use of the digital camera allows me to capture patched roadways, icy paths, and decaying gardens. These images are inspiration for new abstractions on my wall plates and vessels. I enjoy experimenting with mixing organic materials along with paper and my slips to create more focus on the texture. I want to show the disintegration and natural results of age due to extreme changes in the weather.