My work in the field of ceramics began some 20 years ago when a life-long love of pottery motivated me to take a deep dive into the museum archives of past artisans in this craft—men and women who had created gorgeous pieces in a variety of clay bodies and then hand painted them. The plates and bowls and vases I make are often inspired by an eclectic blend of these ancient forms, or contemporary designs and even humor, but they are also original, one of a kind.
While I specialize in decorated, functional pottery, I leave plenty of room for experiment. Most of all, I love to draw and then hand paint the raw piece, an often painstaking but ultimately gratifying process. Pottery is older than recorded time and for that reason, the plates or bowls that sit in front of me demand a considerable amount of respect. If they’re good, they will endure, just as so many before have done. But it takes time.
The saggar process is different. After I throw the pot, I apply terra sigilatta, polish to a shine, and then fire it in the electric kiln. At bisque stage, the sky’s the limit as to applications: chlorides, oxides, salt, sawdust, horsehair, seaweed—any number of combustible organic materials—are painted on or wrapped around the piece which is then sealed and fired in the outdoor kiln in a combination of wood and sawdust. For a longer burn, I replenish the wood so the piece fires for the full day. The cooled pots can then be scrubbed and buffed or waxed to a smooth luster. The results are always a surprise and generally gorgeous. Check them out in the pots section.
Thank you for visiting my website!
Adrienne