My WALL PLATE SERIES
emerged from the five years I spent as a potter's assistant in New Mexico.
In addition to our regular production work, we taught pottery to grade school children after school.
It was one of these lessons that spurred this series.
The work of children has a bold freshness, and spontaneity that is rooted in the moment.
It is their fun, non-formulaic roughness I strive for.
The themes in my plates stem from the everyday.
I am primarily interested in the quotidian.
I am fascinated by the extraordinary unknowable-ness of the everyday
- the things we take for granted -
I attempt to convey both a sense of humor and seriousness typical of life.
At times I interpret images previously created by other artists
- as homage to the amazing gift of theiir insight, and talent -
While based on the tradition of decorative collector plates,
my work departs from the refined,
machine aesthetic typical of many of these:
I prefer a singular, expressive, and painterly effect.
The colors are vivid, and alive.
The plates are slab constructed of low fire terra cotta clay.
The images carved, incised, parts are cut from other slabs and applied in bas-relief.
Under glaze paints are applied.
When dry, plates are bisque fired.
Then a clear glaze is applied, and the plates are fired a second time.
CHECK OUT A FEW PLATES
LIFE CYCLE OF A WALL PLATE
� ***!! START WITH AN IDEA !! ***
� CUT A SLAB OF RAW, WET CLAY
� ROLL IT OUT, SMOOTH IT WITH A RIB, CUT OUT A CIRCLE
� SET INTO PLATE-SHAPED FORM
� CUT SHAPES, SCORE AND SLIP, APPLY
� CARVE, SCORE, DRAW INTO WET CLAY
� AS IT DRIES PAINT WITH UNDERGLAZE COLORS
� ALLOW TO AIR-DRY SLOWLY
� FIRE IN A CONE 04 OXIDATION KILN
� GLAZE WITH CLEAR TOP COAT
� FIRE AGAIN TO CONE 05-06
� HANG IN GALLERY
� ATTRACT THE EYE OF A BEHOLDER
� TRAVEL TO NEW HOME, NEW WALL.
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