Susanne G. Stephenson

Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

Title: Water Rush

Year of Creation: 2009

Glaze: Colored clay slips, vitreous engobes, paper clay slip and glazes

Clay Body: Terra Cotta

Dimensions: Height 35 inches, Width 19 inches

Artist's Statement: For the past several years the focus of my work in ceramics has been abstracting landscapes in low fire terra cotta clay. The brilliant range of ceramic pigments at this temperature in thick, juicy slips and engobes continues to hold my interest. Recently I have created more texture by adding paper pulp and string to my slips, which has increased the depth of my surfaces. The impact of the material clay on my ideas is important, it helps me pull out the gestural qualities in my work.