“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. “

Albert Einstein

Dimensions: approx. radius 7.08 - 7.28 inches / radius 18 - 18.5 cm

Over a year ago I sat down and really thought about what direction I wanted my ceramics to go and then changed this question slightly...where did the ceramics want to take me if I could be led instead of leading?

I had a lot of fun with experiments. To start, I looked at how the unfired clay reacted after or during different weather conditions. Heavy rain dented the wet clay and intense sun cracked it. Another example; I would throw different clay bodies at all kinds of objects or from different heights and look at how varying the moisture content of the clay before the experiments changed the results. This was just one of the tests, some crazier than others but all performed to allow the clay to speak instead of me forcing my agenda or voice onto it. The results varied but I really enjoyed myself. One thing became apparent, it was to find a balance, a collaboration between us, a duet so to speak, where both voices are heard in harmony. Let us not forget that ceramics is hardened clay and clay is the earth we walk on. So it didn’t surprise me that what evolved was a reflection of Nature. The rings on the back of the plate mirror the rings found on a tree. The flip side of the plate really took me by surprise when it turned out that it looks just like wood when viewed under a microscope (see last image). 

These plates are the result of my relationship with clay over the last year.  Each one is unique and handmade, so they vary slightly in size and shape, a bit like ourselves, so handle with care. 

They are food safe but look just as well on a wall as they do on a table. The choice will be yours. The two images of deserts and the stack of plates are for reference only and not the plate available here but just as nice. 

One test I haven’t done yet…. I don’t have a dishwasher, so hand wash for now.