Every work tells a story
Each object I create starts as a seed, plant, tree, bush, or flower in my garden or is foraged from local spaces that I occupy.
These plants, at various growth stages, are recorded as impressions in hand-made plaster molds.
They later become expressions in clay, each clay (terra) slab is hand rolled and pressed into the plaster to achieve the textures and records of the flora.
Textured slabs are then shaped into sculptures for everyday use with an eye for movement, quirky beauty, and ritual function often in combination with various hand building techniques.
All works are glazed with food safety in mind and all of the sculptures (unless otherwise marked) are microwave and dishwasher safe, though temperature extremes can crack and damage the work.
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Finding Flora
Each work starts with the selection of flora-typically for aesthetic as well as symbolic meaning. As a medicinal & food forager, florist, and gardener plants hold immense meaning and collecting them connects me to the world around me.
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Plaster Casting
Flora is cast in custom plaster molds. Molds take a month to fully cure before they are ready to use.
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Hand Pressing
Clay slabs are rolled to ideal thickness for the item being made and then pressed into the plaster to get the expression of each plant in the surface of the clay.
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Textured Slabs Are Formed In Art
Textured slabs are then shaped into sculptures for everyday use with an eye for movement, quirky beauty, and function often in combination with various hand building techniques.
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Works Are Refined, Dried, and Bisqued
This step takes days-months
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Glazing
So that the textures are visible, I use wiping techniques in addition to transparent as well as opaque glazes that accentuate the plant surfaces and are safe and appropriate for the intended use of the work.
