Sara Tolbert

The union of nature and utility drives me to create. Through experimentation in the kitchen, I find that cooking and baking food makes me think about the utilitarian aspect of pottery. I ask myself: What will this hold, how will this be used, would it be easier to use if it were larger? Searching for answers to these questions by way of making things in the kitchen helps to forward my creative process.

Varied textures and patterns are abundant in nature. I strive to add the beauty found in nature and in the kitchen to my porcelain carving. My mind wanders to things such as glistening fish scales, soft serve ice cream, and meringue cookies when I carve my pots. The flowing patterns excite me visually as well as tactilely. Merging lines flow over some of my pieces. On others round craters are gouged out. I prefer to use pattern that is indistinct enough to leave room for the viewer to decide if they see hammered copper, fresh chili flakes, or tall grasses blowing in the wind.