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My Ceramics

In the studio I like to do	Handbuilding, Sculpting
Clay body	Stoneware, Porcelain
Clay Brand	GJ6 from Clay Art/OH10 (also Clay Art, Tacoma, WA): Sometimes Dakota Red (Georgies Clay, PDx, OR)
Kiln Type	Electric Kiln, Raku Kiln, Wood Fired Kiln
Kiln Atmosphere	Reduction Atmosphere
Temperature	Cone 6 mostly, although some Cone 8 and when woodfiring it's Cone 12
Glaze	Amaco Underglazes : chartreuse, turquoise, etc. Bermuda glaze (my formula) Stains/IPs (predominantly blues/greens/browns) I also use a few matte glazes from Georgies: Copper Patina, and Eggshell Wash Lots of clear glaze! Some cobalt blue glaze
You can buy my work from	My website/shop: etsy.com/shop/HeartSongArtsCo or by contacting me directly at heartsongceramics@gmail.com I also sell at local markets in my area when COVID permits.

About Me

Introduction	I’m a potter of 12 years starting in January. I have my own studio conveniently located right off my kitchen and am delighted to make clay creations anytime I feel drawn to do so! I am happy to share what I’ve learned over the years, and am also a member of Oregon Potters Association, where I’ve been a member since 2016. I am active in the Clay in Education section of OPA and am working to bring online classes available to children of all ages in 2021. I’m also an educator as well of 29 years in both OR and CA. I love working with both cone 10 and cone 6 clays and glazes, and fire with an electric kiln in my studio. In addition, before COVID, I also made woodfired pieces (see my photos) that I enjoy doing at the nearby community college where I teach. I am also an herbalist, and enjoy gardening and making tinctures, salves, and formulas for better health and well being. Im interested in connecting with others who have similar interests and would love to also share my etsy site: etsy.com/shop/HeartSongArtsCo. You’ll find the items from my photos and many other pieces for sale there. I’m happy to be here, and look forward to meeting other artists! I can also be reached at the email address: heartsongceramics@gmail.com.
What I Love about Ceramics	Ceramics is incredibly versatile, flexible, and resilient. When used at the correct level of moisture, it is capable of virtually anything from the lowly sauce dish, to the exotic statue, totem, or statue. I love the ancestral feeling of continuing my work with clay as thousands of other potters have done before me! I also love how grounding and centering working with clay is~it has allowed me to make it through the past year with the pandemic with a smile on my face!:) It also helps me work through stress, new artistic expression ideas that I frequently observe through dreams, and helped me incorporate my love of gardening and plants with pottery. Quite simply, clay is a palate of colors and designs all waiting to emerge~it just takes time and a little bit of imagination!
How I started with ceramics	I started ceramics in my teens, then left it for many years while working and raising a family. When my youngest got married, I returned to it to deepen my love of clay from collecting (I have always loved clay pots of all shapes and sizes) to creating and collaborating~I always feel that it speaks through me, not the other way around. 🙂 Now 12 years later, I’m building a successful part time business, creating classes online, and selling at local markets and online. It has been an incredible journey and I look forward to continuing it for many years to come!
What inspires me	I live near the Wilderness Rim of Mt. Hood, OR. I have a constant supply of natural biomass right outside my studio. Fern leaves, cedar branches, vegetable and herb plants in my garden, flowers in season, etc. Nature is my theme and my muse, from mountain etching on the side of cups, to an overlay of ferns, wormwood patterns, and other assorted items. I feel fortunate to have an abundant supply of natural beauty to inspire me and help me build and grow my brand.
What I'm working on at the moment	I’m currently working on making a line of butter dishes, sauce dishes, and small trays and platters with a similar design and color scheme.
My Artist Statement	Incorporating natural environment with texture, glazes and stains, I strive to celebrate the diversity of the Mt. Hood Wilderness Rim area that surrounds my home and studio. I make mostly functional pieces of pottery (plates, cups, mugs, tumblers, etc.) but also enjoy making garden art (totems, statuary, etc.) and have even dabbled in ornamental wall hangings, etc. My work celebrates the ordinary and the extraordinary beauty of the natural world that surrounds me. I have submitted regularly for Oregon Potters Association shows, as well as participated in galleries in nearby Gresham, and Hood River, OR. I enjoy teaching the art as well, and look forward to teaching classes in the near future~online at first, but eventually, I dream of classes inside my studio in the future.
My CV	Gresham Arts Festival (2016-2019) Mt. Hood Holiday Festival (2014-2019) Hood River Gallery Shows (2016-2019) OPA Ceramic Showcase (2016-2021) Hoodland Farmers Market (2020- ) Milwaukie Market (2018-2020)