Joyce Leatherwood
Artist Statement
My love of clay began on the creek banks of my childhood. Red, slippery clay that could be molded into little cat sculptures. I would let them dry in the sun and play with them until they fell apart. I learned early that clay has many possibilities and my fascination has never wavered.
I learned to throw on the pottery wheel in college where I earned a BFA in Ceramics. After many years away from clay, teaching elementary art, being a mom, etc., I am back to working in clay nearly full time. As I am learning and relearning a lot of the technical stuff, I find myself drawn more and more to the sculptural side of ceramics. The possibilities of shapes, images, and textures all excite me and encourage me to experiment with hand building and sculpting techniques.
As I continue my journey of creating with clay, my love of nature informs the surface decoration and my fascination with sculpting adds character and quirkiness. I enjoy combining both facets in my most recent artwork.
Instagram: @JoyceLeatherwood
Website: goimagine.com/JoyceLeatherwood/
