Over the many years that I’ve been making wheel thrown sculptural forms, my work has evolved, one series leading to the next. Never really interested in making functional pottery, from the beginning I used the potter’s wheel to make sculptural forms. I have cycled back to forms inspired by plants more often than not and over the past few years have been making covered jars whose lids are covered with succulent-like and various leaf-like forms. These forms are inspired by desert and under-the-sea plants as well as vegetation reminiscent of growths one might encounter in a backyard garden or in the forest.
Throwing on the potter’s wheel is central to my forming process, offering the possibility of fresh and spontaneous creations. Each of the individual parts of my sculptures is formed on the potter’s wheel and then is altered and or assembled. The forms that come off the wheel allow me to create forms that look alive as if they are growing, twisting, and even wilting. In the current jar series, the main vessel becomes the host and the lids of these vessels grow sprouts from the surface or are meant to appear as though they live inside.
My interest in historical ceramics and world pottery has informed my work: the subjects of the early forms were classic pottery vessels and then eventually evolved to being about and reflecting various natural forms - plants, bugs, human beings and even cellular-like forms. Meanwhile, they evolved from representational to varying degrees of abstraction. Whether partially abstract or representational, the final pieces represent my own vision of plants, bugs, or other natural forms.
Surface and color is also integral to the finished forms. My experimentation in making glazes allows me to add texture, interesting layers and colorful surfaces that can bring the forms to life. Recently I began pushing my own limits of size and scale, ranging from very large forms to rather small forms. As I change the scale of the forms, it forces me to question the basic qualities of the pieces while it reveals to me new ideas and possibilities.
I am always aware of the uncertainty of how a piece will turn out, making the whole process of creating, from creating the form to finishing the surface, an exciting adventure. My goal is for that uncertainty and experimentation to be visible in final work.