| Carolyn enjoys making odd-shaped
dinnerware. "A lot of them don't work." says Carolyn, But she enjoys
pushing the limits of traditional functional forms. White stoneware and stoneware
porcelain clay mixes work best because of their plasticity and the range of colors she can
get when applying glazes. "Her pots are strong in form,
are well-made and are visually pleasing. She has rich glaze combinations. She
applies a direct graceful hand to her functional work." says fellow-member Pat
Agatsuma.
A major turning point for Carolyn began when she took two summer
sessions with Jim and Nan McKinnell. Their emphasis on craftsmanship sharpened her
finished ware. Pots which do not maintain their integrity through the creative
process "hit the bricks."
Another major influence was Ted Vogel's insistence on spontaneity
and risk-taking. "He wanted you to stretch the form you were trying to
make. We made a series of pots, pushing each one's limits until the form no longer
worked. You were then able to go back through the series and refine the pieces that
worked best and move from there." |
