Do you have a preferred pronoun? (optional)
She/Her
Artist Statement
My goal is to take what I see in the physical world and reimagine it in a new way. There is a tongue-in-cheek undercurrent in my choice of inspiration. Flowers are beautiful, but they make me sneeze; bugs have purpose; but they make me cringe. So, I’ve taken those things that are uncomfortable and made them beautiful in a way that is comfortable, exotic, and elegant. With my figures the ideas of beauty are merged and constructed emphasize the absurdity. Firing the work in a soda kiln adds an element of the uncontrollability to what has been controlled in the construction and glazing.
Studio Description
My practice includes a home studio and firing in a community art studio. I have a wheel, tools, and underglazes and dedicated space to create.
What type of clay do you use?
Porcelain
What temperature do you fire to?
Cone 5 and cone 10
What is your primary forming method?
Wheel-throwing and altered
What is your favorite surface treatment?
Underglazes and glazes
Do you make any of your own tools?
No
What one word would you use to describe your work?
Surreal
What is your favorite thing about your studio?
Just having the space to work and the time to experiment.
What is the one thing in your studio you can’t live without?
My wheel
What are your top three studio wishes?
My top 3 wishes are a sink trap, a kiln, and a larger worktable.
What’s on your current reading list?
Real Artist Don't Starve by Jeff Goins, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
How do you save money on materials and supplies?
I try to buy only what I need. When it comes to glazes, I talk to other artists and we share test tiles and results. I use studio glazes and reclaim my clay.
How do you recharge creatively?
When I need a recharge, I just get out a sketch pad and keep it handy, while I am doing other things. Eventually something will spark a new idea or I will find a path to resolve something I am stuck on.
Do you have any DIY tips for studio efficiency?
I reclaim clay in small batches and keep the scraps on yogurt containers with tight fitting lids.
What challenges have you given yourself to overcome?
This year i want to show more work.
What did your first piece look like?
My first pieces were made in college. They what thick, clunky and made with groggy clay.
What ceramic superpower would you have and why?
I'd like to throw larger forms. I am basically creating a simple form on the wheel and then sculpting or reconstructing to make something complex. Throwing larger would give my work greater possibilities.
What area of skill do you most look to other artists to learn?
When I look at other artists, I want to remove my blinders ad step out of the creativity boxes I put myself in.
Who is your ceramic art mentor and why?
I can't say that I have a single mentor. Being part of a community art studio, I am surrounded by a lot of talented artists. I learn something from each of them.
What is on your studio playlist?
Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, Adele, Nina Simone
Why do you create art?
I can't imagine doing anything else. I was always creative, and my parents supported me in that.
Who is your favorite artist and what do you admire about that artist?
Magdelene Odundo. I admired her work long before I had ever touched clay. The clean lines and other worldly quality of her forms has always been with me.
What is your best studio tip?
Keep it simple. Over the years i have collected a lot of tools and the occasional gadget. But in the end, I use just a few items to create my work.
If you could change one property of clay, what would it be?
I would make porcelain less prone to cracking.
