Artist Statement – Ceramics
My portfolio focuses on textures. I became interested in textures because of the wide variety of textures as well as the challenges that come with them. The biggest challenge that I had to find a solution to was that when stretching the cylinders into their unique shapes, I wasn’t able to touch the outside as it would change or get rid of the textures. My investigation starts with a simpler process. I used a wide toothed scratch tool to make lines into the cylinders and then would stretch the clay. I would use translucent glazes as well as underglazes to compliment the textures while also creating more depth. I then moved to using sodium silicate to create textures. I learned that by applying two coats, the cracks would be larger and more defined. I used a hair dryer to dry the surface in order for the sodium silicate to react properly. I used underglazes to fill in the cracks and use a wet sponge to wipe it off the surface. Lastly, I experimented with a chattering mark which I made by angling a trimming tool against the rotation of the wheel to make it chatter and create a repetitive pattern.
Artist Statement – Drawing & Painting
The focus of my portfolio is birds. In each of my pieces, I wanted to showcase the different aspects of the birds that I drew. In some pieces, I paid more attention to the bird itself and different aspects of them, like the feathers or the eyes whereas in others, I looked at parts that seemed to deserve more detail and was more visually interesting like the branches and the background. I utilized the types of textures to bring out the focus of my pieces.
Great Horned Owl
Graphite on paper
Roosters
Colored Pencil on paper
Blue-Headed Tanager
Colored Pencil and Watercolor on paper
Cherries
Watercolor and Acrylic on paper