Finally got an interview with an artist! I first discovered Karen's shop sometime back in probably September '10. I spent a good while going through every picture in her shop and loved the whismical style and colors. They were so fun and ...well, whimsical! I got to talking to Karen this past weekend after getting a surprise gift for a friend. (The beautiful bowl with a flower in it above.)
So here we go!
So here we go!
What got you into ceramics? I started doing ceramics/pottery way back in the mid 90’s after meeting and becoming friends with a grad student in the ceramics department at Southern Illinois University. At the time, I was working on campus and after stating “I’ll just go to the craft shop in the student center.” She replied, “You work civil service, why don’t you take real classes!” So, that’s what I did. After about 2 years of classes, we paid off the new truck, I bought a wheel, and quit my university job.
Whats your studio like? My studio is about 30’ x 20’ in area, painted bright yellow (with lots of mud splattered) and in the second story of the “barn” that my husband and I built from rejected wood bought from the local lumber yard. I have about a quarter of the area of the entire barn for my studio, which includes my kiln, wheel , tables and storage area. I also have a little area downstairs, which is my chemical room, for mixing glazes.
Whats your favorite method or technique to use? I mainly throw on the wheel, although recently, I am doing more slab work creating organically shaped pieces which are suitable as trays or wall hangings. It gives me a large flat surface to decorate like a canvas.Whats your favorite firing method? My favorite is the only way I have availableelectric kiln. I fire low fire cone 04/05, but occasionally I throw and work with a mid-range stoneware clay and fire at cone 6.
Glazing? I bisque at cone04 (red earthenware) then glaze with my white opaque Maiolica glaze, let set over night, then decorate using a Mason stain/frit combination. This "glaze" can be applied as thin as watercolor or as thick as gouache--I overlay the colors or keep them separate depending the effect I want. Then, sometimes I go back and scraffito through the color back to the white glaze, which I feel gives a "pow" effect to the piece. Then back into the kiln for a cone 05 firing. Let cool, and ta da--you see what comes out of the kiln!
Tips on making the stains? From experience, I have learned that certain colors need a higher ratio of frit:stain (frit 3124), because the lower ratio causes the stain to buckle and be very matte like when fired. Unless, that's the look you're going for. First some colors (the encapsulated lobster red and orange) I can go 1:1 and have a very rich color. After attending a workshop on majolica, I learned how to mix different colors from existing mason stains and come up with other colors--the olive greens and mustard yellow I use on the abstract whirled peas design are colors I created.
What inspires/motivates your work? Stories! Critters! Flowers! All three combined! One of my best ways to be inspired is experiencing thingsgoing different places, seeing different things. Another great way is through stories. I love hearing others stories and sometimes this funny image comes in my head and I just have to make it!
Your favorite piece? Right now, my favorite piece is a large platter that I created in conjunction for a fund raiser for Carbondale Community Arts, our local artist organization. It is formed from a slab using a found satellite dish from the red earthenware, textured with various nuts and bolts, and glazed in colors of green and blue. In the center, I fired red glass and used nails. The nails acquire a patina after firing. The theme of the fundraiser is “Platters, Poetry and Prose”. When I was approached to do this, an image of the finished piece came into my head and I knew just what lyrics to use. “Keep your eyes peeled for the good times, the world is dark and ugly, sometime’s beauty’s hard to find, the happy people in it aren’t walking through it blind, keep your eyes peeled for the good times.” I received permission from the song writer and when I recite these words, it seems like they focus me for something good.
Any future goals or projects? I am putting more and more effort into my online presence which I hope will continue to grow and I plan to try to create different lines of work in my studio---sort of playing a bit more to grow as a person/artist.
Where can we see your works? Any upcoming shows or galleries you will be in? You can see my works online at : http://www.ClayLickCreekPottery.etsy.com , http://www.claylickcreekpottery.com ,or http://www.facebook.com/ClayLickCreekPottery In person, I am a member of the Illinois Artisans Program and have work at the Southern Illinois Artisans shop at Rend Lake, Whittington, IL and The Museum Shop in Springfield, IL and locally at Visions Art Gallery in Makanda, IL.
I’m in the process of applying for art shows for 2011---and so far I have been accepted to An Art Affair, and fine art show in Springfield, Il in March, Art on the Square, Taylorville, IL in June, and Best of Missouri Market, St. Louis in October. I post the schedule on my website when shows are comfirmed.
Tips? Suggestions? Thoughts? Ideas? Etc? Best tip---keep doing what you love, people will sense it and be attracted to the life in your work!
Thanks Karen for sharing your beauties and secrets with us!
