About
I am, among other things, an artist, a mother, and human in the world attempting to walk the line between desire for living a whole, passionate, connected life while also navigating the current system of capitalism. Making pottery is the closest I have come to a happy medium of these seemingly at odds realities.
I love clay and making pots. I love processes and experimentation and art. I believe this is what makes us human. I use red earthenware clay because it lends itself well to many different surface design techniques and experiments. I have an obsession with putting imagery on clay. Thoughts how to get scenes, pictures, and illustrations on clay occupy my mind constantly. Through my pots I hope to create a shared feeling magically embedded in a utilitarian object, human connection and ultimately shared humanity. I want my pots to be your friends, a companion to your day. Let’s connect through pottery.
My Work
​My pots are wheel-thrown and hand built then decorated with terra sigillata, slips and underglazes. I use a variety of techniques and materials to create image, color, pattern and texture on my pots including sgraffito, mishima, stencils, wax resist, 'carbon copy' drawing and applying slips, sigs, underglazes, and washes. They are sealed with a food safe clear glaze.
I strive for a relaxed, authentic and engaging visual and tactile experience. I hope to create an object that is undoubtly human-made and provides peeks into the making process that connects maker and user.
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Clay
I choose to make my work with red earthenware clay. Earthenware contains a high amount of iron oxide and other mineral 'impurities', giving it a deep red color that I find so rich and pleasing.
Aside from aestetic reasons, I choose to use earthenware because of its compelling history. It is the oldest clay that was used by humans, used independently for 26,000 years before the introduction of porcelain and stoneware about 5,000 years ago. After their introduction, porcelain and stoneware were luxuries that only the upper class could afford. Earthenware has a historic reputation as being 'the people's' clay, used by and made by peasants. While this context may not hold true today, it adds a historical and political dimension to my work that I agree with and love.
'Redware' refers to utilitarian earthenware pottery made in Europe, England and early America.