Illustrated
is another large terra cotta tebori carved platter with an inner and outer ring
of the carved GRASSES pattern. I enjoy making plates from small luncheon plates
to larger 24" wall pieces that are made so that they can hang on the wall
as decoration or simple storage. For me making plates goes way back to
diversifying what I was making early on at the suggestion of Dick Schneider at
Cleveland State University. In the beginning all I wanted to make was teabowls
as that was a primary interest and thanks to Dick I took up the challenge and
decided there was a lot more to ceramics than making small bowls.
Over the
years I have made hundreds and hundreds of plates but love coming back to the
black and white and carved black slip employed on terra cotta, perhaps it is
the reminiscent comfort of those early days learning to make pots and trying
just about whatever sprung to mind. The grasses pattern in particular has been
a favorite to carve, the repeat and routine of removing slip to reveal the
design exposes the richness of the red clay and once fired creates a great
contrast between the clay and slip, the very simplest components of making
pottery.
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