Outside The Lines Art Gallery

I began my sculpting as a wordcarver, learning the proper techniques from skilled woodworkers who replicate and restore antiques. I branched out into making and hand carving carousel and rocking horses. When I was shown how to make models in clay I was introduced to a whole new medium in which to explore intricate carousel designs. I was shown how to capture and preserve the clay in the Raku firing process, giving my pieces permanence and a satisfying uniqueness.

I find that I have more freedom and versatility when working in ceramics than I do when carving wood; the clay is soft and ready to be shaped and rearranged. Woos carving releases what lies within a piece, a process that once is taken away can not be added. Clay can be reformed and manipulated until I am satisfied. I am more relaxed and creative, free to experiment. And, the final step of raku firing always yields one-of-a-kind results.

I sculpt what decorates my life: smiling suns, serene moons, mystical comets, wild horses. I'm drawn to these universal and timeless themes to which every one can relate. I try to instill as much character in them as I can. With these familiar subjects I hope to bring comfort, curiosity, and the beauty.

I sculpt other subjects that I feel will be complimented by the raku firing process; a white crackle glaze finishs my polar bears or emphasizes the foamy water around a pod of leaping orcas, a green glaze highlights a jungle of tree frogs. Of course it is impossible to put into words exactly what my designs mean to me, but I hope to share my celestial visions through my art.

Raku

I sculpt pieces specifically with the raku firing process in mind. Raku is very dramatic and a little risky for both the artist and the piece of art. The ceramic is glowing hot when taken from the kiln with metal tongs, sometimes inches from the face and then there's the fire. When the hot piece is placed onto straw, flames burst out and must be smothered. The fire lends a dramatic quality to a piece and makes it truly unique. I like the challenge of designing a durable the piece that will withstand firing process.

Bronze
As a ceramic artist I can really appreciate the bronze casting process. There's just something about a piece of your own artwork cast in bronze. Maybe it's the sense of permanence it lends, knowing your artwork will long outlive you. My bronze piece “The Contented Sun” was a gorgeous Raku-fired piece that I wanted to preserve forever.

Aluminum
One day at the bronze foundry I noticed what looked like a piece of an old sports car. It turned out that it was, and that it had been sand cast in aluminum in another nearby foundry. It was a part for the Triumph that belonged to the owner of the bronze foundry, yet it was also a work of art. Sand casting is a time honored casting process where the pattern is pressed in to special green sand, removed, and the impression filled with molten aluminum. The result, “The Contented Sun II” had to be specially sculpted to work with this process. It is one of my most handsome pieces. I finish each piece by hand to look like pewter, and then hand-polish it to add highlights to the cheeks and lips. It's perfect for the patio but also looks great indoors.