The sacred made real

Probably the most exposure I have had to figure sculpture has been in the form of religious statues made to grace churches. I am most drawn to figures that were created in The Baroque or Byzantine eras usually of wood that are now very weathered. There is something about the deep rich hues made subtle through time that seems to heighten the drama and the mystery. These figures are at once elegant and rustic. Powerful and fragile. They are abstracted, simplified down to the bare essentials of what is needed but also decorative. These is emotion and tenderness.

humble old ladies

I have a somewhat obsessive collection of photographs I've taken in my travels of humble old post-communist ladies. I have decided to let these ladies inform my latest round of figurative sculptures. There is something so kind, innocent and genuine in these womens' faces. They have been through so much political turmoil and change but do not come across as downtrodden. They appear confident and unashamed. Proud and knowing. Taking these photos I feel a tinge invasive but the look on their faces so clearly say "recognize me, I exist, I have made it this far". So I do my best to capture and preserve with dignity and truth these ladies. Now I am attempting to capture the spirit of some of these ladies in my figurative sculpture. Will this translate well into the medium of clay figures? That's the challenge.

Making a point with Prints on Clay

Grayson Perry

Stephen Dixon

Paul Scott

These European Ceramic artists all use processes of printmaking and decals on traditional ceramic forms in order to speak directly to the history of European decorative ceramics. I think there is something grounded and readable about using these very traditional functional forms that can act as blank canvases for the layers of detailed information. The imagery and surface is beautiful in itself but on closer observation there is political content. I appreciate the layering and collage aspects that reference printmaking. There is something of an element of recycling what we already know so well...using found objects and imagery to create a social dialog about what we are over saturated with.

Bad Ass Eastern European Ceramic Designers

Marek Cecula-Poland

Eva Zeisel-Hungary

Maxim Velcovsky-Czech Republic


Leave it to those raised under Communism to grow up and become the best Ceramic industrial designers on the planet! These designers/artists have all been revolutionary in their thought provoking designs. Through clever and creative conceptual approach these designers have managed to turn mass produced products into art with a political undertone. Zeisel "the mother of modern design" has managed to prove that you can create objects for daily use that have soul. She has managed to somehow counteract the coldness/masculinity of industry with her fluid, curvy anamorphic designs. Cecula speaks directly to this coldness so much so as to make a political point. Velcovsky is brilliant in his humorous critique of products and culture. All three are clearly genious visionaries always one step ahead of everyone else...always pushing ceramics just a little bit further into the future because they seem to have a grasp on those aspects that are timeless.