The intention in my work is to capture the arcane qualities of everyday mundane objects. This interest in the still life was fired up in 1990 while in Bologna, Italy, where I saw the Georgio Morandi Retrospective Exhibition. I was amazed how Morandi could paint such simple everyday objects repeatedly, yet brilliantly capture their mystical qualities.

In 1991, I spent my sabbatical as an artist in residence at the Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT. I worked along side potters making functional ware meant to be used and enjoyed daily. This lead to my research on modern and contemporary artists depicting the everyday object, such as Picasso, Cézanne and Elizabeth Murray. I was interested in the play of the actual object, which is three-dimensional as opposed to the visual imagery, which is merely two-dimensional. I utilize this imagery to challenge the viewer’s perception of space and three-dimensionality.

One format my work takes is that of the tondo, or round relief, found in Italian Renaissance architecture. This presents an almost flat surface on which to develop the still life imagery.

All the work is made of earthenware clay, which has a high iron content which gives it a reddish color. I use a unique slab handbuilding technique that utilizes, tarpaper, or roofing felt, for support. The surface is low fire underglazes and glazes as well as terra sigilatta, a refined slip, with stains added for color. I incorporate the slip techniques of mishima, an inlaid slip, and scrafitto, slip scratched through to the clay surface. The pieces are fired in an electric kiln to about cone 04, about 1800 degrees Fahrenheit.

Read artist's statement about NAVIERES Series.
Read artist's statement about KARIKA/KUPA Series.