Found near the corner of Colfax and York
2220 E. Colfax Avenue Denver, CO 80206 303 399-2675 megan@corkgallery.com
Found near the corner of Colfax and York
2220 E. Colfax Avenue Denver, CO 80206 303 399-2675 megan@corkgallery.com
My salt-fired pottery is decorated using the sgraffito technique. I start by wheel throwing or hand building each piece. When the form is finished and the clay is still slightly soft, I brush colored clay slip over the surface. I then draw my design and meticulously carve away the background, revealing the clay underneath. The result is striking designs with rich surface texture.
After the piece is bisque-fired, I coat the inside with a colored glaze. I then fire it in a gas kiln, where salt is introduced at 2400 degrees. It vaporizes and the sodium reacts with silica in the clay to form a natural glaze. This type of firing is exciting because it produces a wide variety of texture and color.
Nature provides the greatest inspiration for my work. I am endlessly drawn to the beauty of all living things. The forms of animals, insects, fish and botanicals bring the surfaces of my pottery to life.
Cris Conklin
© 2008 CO/RK Gallery