Process
Wheel Thrown
The wheel is where all the shaping happens. When the pieces are still green I apply a coat of earthen pigment. Arriving to a finish that is satisfactory and has consistency while still elevating the natural beauty of the clay, is a long process. It takes endless sample tests and many failures.
I use a combination of techniques: one of my favorite way to adorn a vessel is through “sgraffito” which is an Italian word meanings scratching away. After applying a coat of pigment I scratch away part of it by following a pattern I have previously decided. I resort to a variety of patterns, some come from the pottery tradition of my ancestors, the Etruscans and some draw inspiration from the beautiful Pueblo pottery of the South West.
There are times when I just burnish the vessel by using a smooth rock. Both sgraffito and burnishing are old techniques that have been used for centuries in cultures the world over. Glazes have been developed only in more modern times. I use clear and satin glazes to coat the interior of my vessels which makes them more resistant to frequent washing and use.
Hand dug & hand built
Clay can be found along creek beds, in old pits and caves, along ridges where different stratification of soil have settled over time.
The nearabout of where she can be found vary from place to place and I imagine that if you spend long enough time in place there would be a potter or someone who has learnt the land to be able to take you there. I have been fortunate to live in places where such people were still around and had the opportunity of learning the difference between working with wild and commercial clay.
Not all wild clays are cleaned and ready for use. Some are but many require further washing and cleaning.
There is a man in Norther Italy who told me that before you are able to work with wild clay you need to let her sit to rest for a year once she has been washed. Such time is to let her rest and regain strength in her body. Quite an incredible request given the modern time we live in where everything must be ready for use right away at whatever cost and consequence.
