Artist Statement
Beginning this body of work was like preparing for a journey.
I began by mapping out where I wanted to go. What roadside attractions I would visit along the way? Collecting local lore and historical facts- a bit how I approach writing scripts for the theatre. Numerous trips to the library ending with stacks of books by the bed and a mound of spoken word “books on CD” in the studio to work by. When I'm too tired to work I'll curl up with a good movie that visits the subject. I become thoroughly familiar with the landscape so I can bring all aspects of the research into my work.
I hand sculpt with a mid-range clay, firing to about 2200 degrees. Many of these pieces were build from a clay body with grog, as I wanted the small particles within the clay to echo the sand and rocky beaches. Sometimes I used a porcelain wash over the work to the smooth surface of carved stone. I used predominantly a wash of copper oxide to create the look of weathered bronze and ocean swells. Rutile and iron oxide work for a more weathered look.
