I came to ceramics from photography, drawn to the tactile qualities of clay. I've embraced handbuilding techniques and have been exploring non-traditional approaches to finishing my pieces. My first method was pinching, which I still find the most tactile and comforting. Recently, however, my work has been growing in size, and I've been incorporating more coiling. I feel that all of my current pieces stem from sculptural vessels, and I am deeply drawn to voluminous forms that invite touch or a hug.
My inspiration often comes from nature or from handmade objects rich with symbolism. I prefer natural looking finishes that make the pieces look ancient, or, at least, vintage, with a patina of time and stories to tell. Depending what the piece is, it might also resemble something from nature, like a rock or pebble. Recently, I’ve been using these "rocks" as canvases, painting on them with low-textured glazes—sometimes spontaneously, other times with a specific design in mind.
Two of my favorite finishing techniques are botanical printing, in which plant material transfers shape and pigment to the surface of bisqued clay, and pit firing, which gives my pieces an excavated, weathered look. When I begin a new piece, I try to listen to the clay, to what it wants to express on any given day. All of my pieces are unique for a simple reason that no two conversations are ever the same.
If you are interested in learning more about my work or in aquiring any of the pieces, please contact me directly at gonetangoing@yahoo.com.