|
After receiving my BFA with a concentration in ceramics from Colorado State University and apprenticing to a studio potter in Wisconsin for a year and a half, I have maintained a private studio ever since. In 1995 I moved to my present home of Guffey Colorado.
One of the many influences that can be seen in my art include images from my childhood, growing up in South Carolina, where there were still plenty of houses that were raised on stilts to let the air circulate, and sharecroppers houses with doors and window frames painted turquoise blue to keep the “haints” (haunted spirits) out. Old buildings: houses, barns, corn cribs, mine entrances, bridges, have always interested me. Their form, the lines of light and shadow, faded paint, rusted nails, draw my eye. I am also intrigued by their histories, leftover remnants of past uses, peoples’ lives... Other images have left their marks and I incorporate these bits and pieces in my work.
About My Art
My work primarily involves high fire (2350 + F) functional stoneware and low fire (1650 F) sculptural raku clays. The stoneware is fired twice-once in an electric bisk kiln and again in a gas fired reduction atmosphere kiln. The raku work is fired multiple times, the last time it is “smoked” in a variety of materials, anything that will burn or smolder. This allows the carbon to penetrate the porous parts of the clay to create the final look of the piece. The early firings in the electric kiln allow for initial setting of colors, the raku process allows Susan to give each piece life. Cracks and splits are part of the final process and add further life to the pieces.
I also work with metals, primarily sterling silver conchos, buckle sets and other silver items for saddles.
|
