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My Influences:::
I’m a graphic designer by day for the Southeastern State of New Mexico. I’ve only been creating in clay for about 3 years and I‘m totally in love with it. My style has been shaped by many different events, ideas and experiences in my life-including a Raku workshop in Phoenix this Summer)Exposure to other artists’ styles through books, magazines, workshops, and galleries, as well as collaborationing with others (my favorite is the OTC Group here on Ebay) have all broadened my ideas about style, color, and form. Freely and liberally from all the sources which I've experienced with I've developed my own style and personally having fun while discovering a new world to design in.
My Handmade Vessels:::
The process is a self-taught way of creating with clay. I knew that any armature I used would have
to be removable. I came up with a technique of building a rigid coil-skeleton or slab with various
shaped bowls and cylinders, as well as large amounts of plastic wrap. The armatures are covered
with hand-rolled coils or clay slabs of white ceramic earthenware and the vessels features are
sculpted into a detailed form. After drying to a leather hard state, the vessel is then taken off the
structure, just at the right time. The edges are smoothed, and allowed to dry out completely, then
under-glazes are used for details - before - being bisqued fired. Generally, this part of the process
takes about 1 week (depending on the weather, of course). Each piece is then painted with layers
of glazes and washes. And just this year--I know self-taught myself (glazes) and kiln them a
second time. At this point, many pieces get some type of "mixed media" addition: I like to make
"hair" out of bits of wire or leather. Lately, I've been having fun using dry cactus wood or antiques
found around the area as I hike with my dogs. I sculpt many small clay parts to help each vessel tell its own story. I especially like to emphasize humor, wit and irony in my pieces and I hope that the vessels, sculptures & face jugs are able to speak for themselves.
I’ve lived is lots of place in the world:::
lived in Japan as a kid (five years) and even spent 2 years in Turkey ---lived in Nebraska, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, New York, Mass., New Hampshire (Plum Island)and ended up here in New Mexico - this is home (totally love it here in the desert).
I just. Finally bought a pottery wheel and I'm currently teaching myself how to use it...lots toooo learn.
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