Wacky people make wonky pots

Beatrice Wood

George Ohr

Peter Voulkos

These potters are all very famous for their crazy personalities and their wonky, full of life and character pots.  There seems to be a fearlessness, sense of freedom and play.  They are obviously not afraid to try new things and not hung up on straight lines or overly clean edges.  Fresh and humble they capture the Japanese wabi-sabi aesthetic.  

behold the Byzantine icons

Byzantine Icon Painting

Byzantine Icon Painting

Painted Monastery in Romania

I have always been drawn to the elaborate and ornate art that flourishes in old churches. I was not raised going to church so I enter every church as a detached visitor not caught up in the religious part and just there to take in the art. I pretty much enter every temple, monastery or grand cathedral I come across. To me it makes no difference if it is catholic, Muslim, Buddhist or Hindu-all have something for me to behold. My favorite though is Eastern Orthodox Byzantine icons. I am drawn to the rich worn away colors of red, green and blue with bold black outlines set off with luscious gold, velvet, gems...its all at once decadent and humble. The figures are very two dimensional and otherworldly. Everything is usually very crowded and overly expressive and emotional. I am also drawn to the architectural frames of the icon paintings. Two summers ago I was able to visit many of the famous painted monasteries in Romania and see all of this first hand.

Eastern European folk costumes

Polish folk costumes

Hungarian folk costumes

Romanian Folk costumes


It is true. I am obsessed with Eastern European folk culture. I've always been drawn to it as a pattern motif and now that I have actually been to villages and seen this stuff up close I'm even more hooked. I am particularly fond of the traditional folk costumes. It's the bold colors, the millions of layers and the utterly, overwhelming cramming of patterns into space that I enjoy. These patterns smack you in the face with an enthusiastic hooray. Like the loud pop of an opening champagne bottle, fireworks, a meadow in full bloom, or the crescendo of a song. These outfits speak to merriment and joy from a time and place where this was still a priority. In the face of poverty and struggle the spirit summons a refusal to be resigned and lashes back with bright bold colors. You see this again and again in lower-class populations all over the world. For this reason I like to surround myself with these fabrics and I find there colors and patterns creeping into my artwork as well.