Clay has been a fascination of mine since I first laid hands on it since high school. I knew I found my calling when that first piece came out the kiln. When starting a project I start with a basic form. The piece only becomes apparent when it’s complete. I mainly do hand-built work and have started venturing off into thrown work. I like to mainly make utilitarian pieces. I like knowing my pieces will be used, makes it that much more intimate.
An octopus
and sea creatures recently influenced me.
So they became the imagery I chose for the platter series I created. The
octopus influenced me because it can contort itself any way it wants just like
I can with clay, after some coaxing. A deceptively weak looking creature but is
strong. Some people have thought working with clay would be easy, but learn
it’s a deceptively fickle medium.
I made three hand-built platters that
fit together to make one huge circular platter. I made a pizza slice looking mold.
I then made a slab and draped it into the mold. I did this three times out of
the same mold. All the feet were extruded from an extruder. I made these platters
out of terracotta. I did this because I wanted to use the Majolica glaze
method. I love the bright color palette the Majolica provides. It was like I
was painting on canvas. Majolica allowed me to create depth I wouldn't have
gotten using a high fire glaze. Islamic potters first created majolica, a white
tin-glaze, during the Middle Ages. Influenced by Chinese porcelain, which they
didn’t have, Majolica allowed them to fake it. But it was in Italy during the
Renaissance that Majolica became popular.
Working with
clay has provided me with many challenges. The challenge of figuring out how to implement
an idea. And of course the challenge of the glaze might or might not come out
the way I want it. The possibility of having cracks form in the drying process
out of nowhere. I know it will give me more to come. I look forward to the
challenges and frustrations. The end result when a piece comes from the kiln
will be that much more sweet.