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Judi Tavill
I began experimenting with clay while trying to find my voice as an artist beyond my work in fashion and print design. This led to being covered in dirt and kissing my fingernails good-bye. I tend to stay within the confines of the functional vessel as it forces me to face design challenges regarding use as well as beauty. In this way, the creative process is similar to that which I experienced as a fashion designer.
Depending upon the size of the piece, the process of centering and forming the clay can be a very physically demanding experience. Throwing on the wheel allows me to create a custom 'blank' with the right sense of volume and form. I have a hard time leaving that beautiful shape alone. My process has evolved by ripping the edge, twisting, cutting, turning, and shifting of the walls. Carving or texturing is the most recent development.
My work is definitely process oriented. I do not spend a lot of time sketching on paper. A lot of my 'sketching' occurs while working with the clay on the wheel or during the alteration process. I have conceptual ideas of where I want to see the work go. However, success depends upon how the clay reacts. Issues of drying, cracking, breaking, and glazing remain moving targets that I continue to deal with. Experimentation is crucial to the evolution of my work.
I make my own glazes using available recipes and experimenting with various ingredients. This allows me to develop my own glaze variations that will compliment and meld with my forms. Spraying the glazes allows for experimentation by layering various colors and playing with the thickness of the application.
Bringing function and art together is a wonderful balance. My hope is that each piece can bring joy to the collector by its presence or by its use. If my work can cause one to notice form or color a little differently that day, this completes the creative process for me.
01/05/06
