In the process of creating the sculptural vessels in the summer of 2005 and in 2006, a concern for the surface and some greater graphic and/or textural qualities led to experimentation with painting unscreened local clay/slip, commercial underglazes and glazes on small slabs. These are the results. Slab painting is an angle or vein I intend to continue to develop. Beyond sculpture and vessels, clay provides every possibility that paint does as a medium for two dimensional expression, perhaps even more-so with the resulting textures from layers of clay and slip. Design, as always, remains an intregal part of the work. I must admit, I have yet to seemlessly marry the results I find myself most pleased with in these slab paintings with the surface treatments used on my sculptural vessels. Time and continued work, I believe will bring together the most successful qualities of these "experiments in surface" with the vessels I create. I have begun (as of spring/summer 2009) to produce a series of plates that shall be used as canvases, like these small slabs have been, as surfaces to paint and design onto. Results soon to follow... 

 

       

                              

      

 

    

        

       

 

Creating and framing these two-dimensional pieces has provided me with greater possibilities to exhibit and sell work in that 2D works are much easier to find venues for exhibition. Most local (Portland) venues, such as restaurants, are not geared for showing sculpture. I believe that limitation holds true of people who buy art as well. Works designed to be hung on walls have a distinct advantage over pieces that require a pedestal or cabinet for display. 2D works find places of honor on peoples' favorite walls at home, whereas sculpture often may wind up tucked behind something unrelated in a glass cabinet or amongst clutter on some furniture top. That's my observation, thus-far... 2D works exhibit and sell much more easily than 3D works do.