I’m a ceramic artist currently working in Western Massachusetts. I make handbuilt sculpture and pottery with illustrated surfaces. The outsides of my pots are often unglazed porcelain. The bare clay is smooth and soft to touch, a little reminder of what the clay was before it was glazed and fired. It is the canvas I draw and paint onto. When I inlay black underglaze into the surface of my pot, it reveals the lines I’ve carved as well as some process marks and imperfections in the surface that are too fine to be seen on their own. The result is smoky and atmospheric like a charcoal drawing or ink wash painting.
I like to draw domestic environments where my pots themselves would be most at home. I focus on shared spaces like living and dining areas, and especially kitchens, the heart of the home. I include details like dishes in the sink and cluttered surfaces, evidence that the homes I’m imagining are well loved and lived in.
My drawings answer a longing for safety and stability I think many of us share. Quiet and intimate, they describe comfort objects, shared meals, and daily routines. And my pots are made for that daily life. I believe design and craftsmanship come from a place of empathy. I put consideration into my forms, rims, handles, and feet so drinking and eating from my pots is a comfortable experience.