Turtle plates and feminine forms

Making turtle plates has become a meditation for me. I mold the plates then the design is carved into slip I have painted onto the surface of the white earthenware. The design on their shells is a mandala. Each one is unique using symbols from a variety of cultures. For me, turtles represent; patience (something ceramicists-and most folks need a great deal of), wisdom, stamina, connection to the earth and the water. In some Indigenous tribes they are said to carry the Earth on their back.

The turtle plate above is my latest and is adorned with symbols for the 4 elements: earth, water, fire and air, which are all united by a spiral.

These ultra-feminine forms are based on the symbol of women's creativity, our womb. I make them from a mold and usually texture the outer side with an object taken from nature: coral, shells, pebbles or tree bark. I use these ceramic pieces to experiment with glazes, slips and oxides and find new and interesting combinations of colors.

To see an up to date catalog of my ceramics visit my Picasa album.