My Process

The creative process begins witth an idea for a series of 7 to 10 birds I would like to depict. After reading about the birds and their environment, I begin working with the clay (usually procelain), and complete all the clay forms of the series. The pieces are then all fired for the first time.

Then a very detailed drawing in a large scale is made of each piece, illustrating how I want the final piece to appear. This provides a "road map" for the glazing process.

The final step is glazing. This includes the use of colored and clear underglazing as well as colored overglazes. To apply these, I frequently use an airbrush a number of times, (as well as brushes) to create the kind of depth of color and detail I want to achieve on each piece. Firings are made between each application.

The whole process described takes about 3 to 4 months to complete a series of 7 to 10 pieces. Often I have a deadline for finishing the work - which keeps one completely focused!