process

creating
a clay stone

I begin by shaping a closed form on the wheel, starting with a cylinder and then sealing the top. Once the form is closed, I apply bands of colored slips to create the striation patterns (see slideshow for step-by-step examples).

After removing the piece from the wheel, I allow it to dry slowly before starting the altering process. Through a series of drying stages and careful paddling with wooden tools, the form gradually transforms, taking on the organic shape and texture of a river stone. This slow, deliberate distortion infuses the piece with energy and life. The finished works evoke the layered beauty of sedimentary stones, shaped over time by heat, pressure, and the smoothing force of water.