Artist Statement
My slab-built geometric ceramic structures reflect dwellings, rural structures, landforms, and beaches. The beaches of Whidbey Island, Washington, the ranch lands of Central Washington and the suburban cul-de-sacs near Seattle all inspire my work. I work in low-fire clay with restrained use of stains and glazes and heavy use of multi-layered surface texture. My structures occasionally incorporate metal, found objects and natural stone or wood.
Narrative is central to all my work; I communicate stories through images etched into the flat planes of the geometric shapes or through groupings of buildings with each other and their surroundings. Stories often emerge from the marks created by the clay texturing process which is kept loose and spontaneous.
Process
My work starts with uniformly rolled slabs of clay and extruded clay. Earthenware is preferred because its porous nature supports glaze layering and multiple firings. Grogged clay creates an inherent texture to my surfaces which is further enhanced by added sand and texturing tool work. This process lends itself to spontaneous marks from which landscapes and other images emerge. The structure’s form itself is not spontaneous because the slabs are cut and constructed when the clay is quite stiff, using templates to ensure accurate wall and roof alignment. My work is fired in oxidation, so I rely on layered glazes to achieve complex colors.
A video and interview about my inspiration and process can be found at the Brumfield Gallery website and Live Broadcast: Karen Abel and Patricia L. Giraud on Vimeo.