Cara Jean Clay

Inspired by Nature’s lush forms, I use porcelain and stoneware to create my own personal garden. Most often I begin on the wheel and then alter the shapes, adding hand coiled leaves, seeds and berries, or suggestions of vines, flowers, bark and twigs. I decorate the forms - often inside out and upside down. While slowly drying the layered attachments of coils, swirls and curls, I can add underglaze watercolors, melting swirls of color to imitate clouds and lakes or ocean waves. Often I will draw caricatures of inquisitive koi, friendly (and lucky) herons, sweet eyed owls or fantastical crowned bird life using underglaze watercolors, pencils and pastels on the bisqued clay.

I adore making Vases and Creamers, abstract Wall Gardens and Vase-Bowls...functional and sculptural...all handmade with love and ready to display in windows, on walls, in fountains or filled with flowers. My favorite mantra is "Never Enough Flowers!....Ever!"   I hope to entice you to look closer at every moving, dancing curl, and to touch the forms! ...Clay is meant to be touched. It is a simple, earthy and tactile joy!