My Journey with Clay

Little did I know that my first one woman show to exhibit my paintings at the Cramer Center for the Arts in 2006 out in Richmond, VA would be the beginning of another artistic journey for me that will last I believe the rest of my life.  It was at this gallery where I saw a ceramic tiled wall comprised of tiles that had been hand-built in clay by the elementary children of the Steward School.  Although I could feel my development as a painter kicking into a new gear, and I had just sold four original paintings in my first one woman show, I could not stop thinking about creating something in clay.  I knew absolutely nothing about working with clay, but driven by some need-to -know vibe, the next day I was buying my first bag of clay.  I then started reading around on the internet for some instruction on what to do next.  I was persistent , and I kept telling myself to follow the inspiration and the desire to explore clay because it is part of being an artist - just follow your spirit and see what happens.   So I decided create some small images from memories of things I experienced growing up in the projects of  Brooklyn.   I had these drawing and had been planning to paint the mages in wax, but never did.  Now without any further thought, I knew clay would be the perfect medium for this imagery .    I emailed a ceramist I luckily came across on the internet who graciously gave me some tips to get started regarding how to paint on clay without having to use glazes as the children had done.  Next I found a community clay studio in Bethesda (Fire It Up) that graciously fired my first works in clay ("golden memories") and also gave me ssuggestions on some begining clay and glaze books to start reading and learning more about this almost limitless medium.   Glazing was going to be a big problem I was thinking (with out a kiln), but I wanted to learn, and even though the clay was a messy medium to work with; ibut t was also the most calming medium that was somehow becoming very additctive .   The more I learned the more I wanted to explore.  Luckily for me my guardian angel or the clay goddess (as some ceramist say) was guiding me, and led me to  an experienced ceramist Vince Pitelka while I was surfing about mason stains to paint on clay with.  Not knowing who Vince was,  other than what I'd just read that he had some pretty done deep studies in coloring clay, I emailed him several times with many questions, and he always responded kindly .  Eventually he suggested I read his book "Clay: A Studio Handbook".  Gee Wiz, I carried it everywhere reading every minute I got!  A friend at my gym saw my interest in clay, revealed low and behold that she is a ceramist and exposed me to cermaic magazines: Clay Times, Cermamic Monthly, and Pottery Illustrated giving me over 50 back issues to read until I felt obsessed by clay!    A year after being bitten by the clay bug in Richmond exhibiting my paintings, I enrolled in Montgomery College Takoma Park in September 2007.   I have since taken Ceramics I and Ceramics II with Megan Van Wagoner who is a wonderful teacher at the college.  Although I'm taking a break from school during the Summer2008,   I looking forward to resuming my studies in the Fall. 

I am now dipping my paint brushes in clay!  My pottery wheel is one of the best tools I've invested in.  Yes, I'm truly thirsting for a kiln now, but I dare not go there since my studio is in my apartment !  To all my patrons - I don't plan to stop painting instead I will be working in both mediums and eventually I will find my groove and combine the best of both worlds.   

 Take a short tour to see what I've been enjoying.  You will have to return to see more new work !  Sculptures, abstracts, functional & non-functional ceramic work, there is just so much I have plans to do now that I am slowly and surely finding my way with clay! 

Thanks to all the ceramists out there who rceived inquisitive emails from total stranger, yet you responded to me with much kindness, offering guidance and encouragement !