After a decade of designing clothing, I'm thrilled to share my latest explorations of texture, form and pattern; now expressed through the art of ceramics. The majority of this work is inspired by Nerikomi, a traditional Japanese hand-building method that produces intricate patterns by layering, stacking, and kneading various colored clays. Each piece is truly one of a kind, made by hand through slab building and carefully trimmed to reveal the intricate patterns.
The Nerikomi hand-building process takes patience and careful attention to detail. I begin by mixing Mason stains into white stoneware clay to create a range of colors. Once the colored clay is prepared, the pattern-making process begins. Much of my visual inspiration comes from the natural world—landscapes, rocks collected with my son, and the garden.
After developing the pattern, I roll and compress the clay slab to the desired thickness, then cut out the pieces to create my slab-built forms. Once the form is constructed, a careful trimming process begins to reveal and refine the pattern work beneath the surface. Each piece is then finished with a coat of clear glaze, enhancing the depth and vibrancy of the embedded design.