I use clay as a sculpting and painting material to create self-expressive artwork. Inspired by the Matterism style of painting, specifically painters such as Bram Bogart, my practice and process centre around having unrehearsed conversations between the materials properties and the sensibility of my hands, in the moment of creation. I seek out the space where creativity arises from the unconscious mind by exploring a process of automatic mark making using a variety of mediums such acrylics, charcoal, mono printing and clay. Drawing and making have a symbiotic relationship. To create my ceramic forms, I use fine white porcelain clay and add colourful ceramic stains to the clay body itself to produce my thick malleable painting palette. Initially, working on a flat surface, I build compositions by adding, moving and spreading the clays in a free gestural manner. Working with clay in its soft state, I respond intuitively and spontaneously to capture the energy and expressiveness occurring in those unplanned moments of marking. These clay canvasses are then reformed into abstract three-dimensional works, which range from open and closed forms, to wall mounted pieces. I seek, and aim, to reflect the creative value of the hand-mind-body connection as I engage with material and process, thinking through making, moving through matter to create material thoughts. Unencumbered by outcomes, I see my process as a perpetual experiment and my artworks are not concluded or confined. Each piece has fluidity in its form and function, freely moving between the boundaries of painting, drawing, sculpture and vessel.
