I am very excited to show you my latest works, a collection of Terra Cotta leaves with oxides, glazes, and Gold, Silver and Copper leaf. These works combine two of my passions: clay and gardening. Last summer, I wanted to make items that were personalized and small enough to take as gifts for friends in Tacoma, Washington. At the same time that I was working on those gifts, I was also making new pieces for my annual Day of the Dead altar, pieces that I was covering with silver leaf. Working with the silver leaf led me to cover other works in gold and copper leaf. To see the leaves, please go to my Ceramics portfolio.
After years of working on tiles and finally placing them in my garden bench (see the October 2008 entry below for details), it seemed natural to continue making flat objects and using my garden as inspiration. I took leaves from various fruit trees and pressed them into the clay in order to capture their beautiful, natural details. I experimented with different colors, oxides, glazes and used an antique gold leafing technique to finish them in either gold, silver or copper.
Next month I will be attending conferences in Phoenix, Arizona and South Korea. Upon my return, I plan to make items such as plates and cups inspired by my roses and other fruit trees which include peach, persimmon, ficus and a passion fruit vine.