I create ceramic pieces to explore the possibilities of when my hands and clay interact with each other. I love to discover the different ways my fingers can mold the clay to my minds envisions. As an example, when creating my piece “Water of the Sea”, I had a rough outline, but mostly explored with my fingers and the tools to see what would happen if I just went with it. My goal as an artist is to create art that others can ponder at. I hope when people look at my artwork they question it’s meaning; I do not want my artwork’s message to be clear but to be vague, consequently allowing observers to have to think about what my work is and what it means.

 

            I have a fairly unorthodox method to create art. I have a rough sketch of what I would like to accomplish and experiment. I sketch different forms and see where the pencil likes to go. I do not create an extremely details or specific outline of what my pieces will look like. Instead, I begin to work with a general goal and then allow my fingers to make the decisions. Often times my process changes my original vision. As this vision continues to mold, I select different materials or techniques that fulfill my new expected outcome. I like to push myself to see my potential instead of being safe, even if my pieces do not come out as uniform or nice as they could be. Finally, I ask lots of questions to my peers and teacher along the way. Before executing major shifts in my project’s goal, I like to get outside input, because often what is in my head only makes sense to me.

 

            My current work is not a uniform collection but instead a random assortment of the different avenues of my mind. My inspirations come from all sorts of outlets. Sometimes, I just aspire to understand how I would create something. Other times, I get inspired from an outside source. As an example, my teapot “Roots” fits both criteria. I was inspired by the pinched forms of George Ohr’s pottery and wanted to understand how I could manipulate the wheel to create such forms. Or, my trivet “Time We Reveal” was inspired by my (at the time) newfound introduction to the Jewish religion. In this way, I explore my mind, the medium of clay, and the potential of my tools and fingers.