Handcrafted pottery has the capacity to nourish the home, the hand and the mind. Therefore, it is important that my work is not only attractive and useful, but evokes sentiments of comfort and delight. Whether it is a vase that demands flowers or pots that enrich mealtime, my work is made to honor and commemorate the rhythms of home.
I am drawn to forms that describe contrasts between modesty and generosity, grace and awkwardness. Awkward, hand-built flourishes adorn graceful, wheel-thrown curves. Modest volumes and tailored profiles transition into generous knobs and ruffled edges. Details such as folds, seams, darts, pillowed handles and pinched feet record the hand’s process of making as they relate to my love of sewing. Brushed slip, carved lines, trailed under-glazes and applied glazes not only achieve a visual repetition between form and surface, but also allow for a tactile investigation of it. These textures are meant to make touch a comforting and memorable experience similar to the positive sensations associated with certain types of fabric.
The exterior surface contains a bold, graphic section and a quiet, glazed section. Inspiration for the graphic portion comes from a fondness of textile design. I glean from post WWII textiles, Arts and Crafts Era designs and Edo period kimono fabrics as sources that historically honor and celebrate everyday life. In contrast to the drawn portion, the glazed portion is meant to accentuate the details of the form. Glazes, inspired by nature, are selected to break on edges and pool in recesses. Like the luminance of glacial ice or mid-winter alpenglow, it is important that the atmosphere of the glazes appear to emit lightness from within. This is achieved by the translucency, hue and depth of the glaze as well as by the brightness and luminosity of the porcelain underneath.
As an artist/craftsperson, I am driven to keep “the handmade” an integral part of the contemporary home. My ongoing research is to reinforce personal sentiments of generosity, honesty, beauty, mystery and optimism through design and utility. Forms, colors, textures, glazes and patterns directly interpret these sentiments. By means of thoughtful, handcrafted pottery destined for the domestic landscape, I am able to nourish the home, celebrate the hand and cultivate the mind.