Moving Right Along

Here is yet another piece from my "Shigaraki" period. Looking back, I see that all of the masks I made there represent some form of change or movement and this one is a perfect example. Even now, in my raku frenzy, I'm still working with stoneware and stretching its limits as far as I can. The big challenge now is to fire it to near vitrification (for strength) and then use low fire treatments and a final raku firing. Some ceramists have told me that this couldn't be done - but, where there's a will.......

Half Empty or Half Full?

How we look at things really does matter: it can make the difference between feeling good or bad, ascending or descending, too much or not enough and on and on and on. When I look around and see my life as half full, there is hope. In those darker moments, when I see it as half empty, I question my very existence. At this point, the choice becomes clear: half full is enough...

I pierced this mask all over to imply leakage - and this in turn implies that one starts out full.

On Top of the World

This is a mask that was inspired by a young woman I was working across the table from at a ceramics workshop in South Korea. I was captivated by her face - especially her cheeks and eyes and though I don't normally do this (sculpt from a live model), decided I had to capture her image. She also influenced the finishing and title of the piece since her name is Go Sun Re. The idea of sun rays suggested the sky/growth theme and the woman's sparkling personality, the top of the world!