| Clay Art Botanica by Linda Kliewer Beautiful, hand-carved, one-of-a-kind pottery |
| About the artist: Linda Kliewer |
I am a clay artist who works with fine stoneware. My primary focus has been carving botanical forms
on my handbuilt and thrown vases, jars tiles and trays. Much of my subject matter is found in my large
garden, but not all of it. Large tropical leaves and flowers especially attract me. I try to carve in such
a way that the botanical images compliment each other, but aren’t necessarily growing together at
the same time in nature.
All the designs are one of a kind. After building or throwing the piece, the clay is allowed to get fairly
hard on the surface. I then draw the design that I wish on the work. Most of the time I just look at the
form of the piece and then decide which design I think would best suit the shape. I then carve out the
designs, taking away clay along the edges of the lines as I go. Often there are leaf lines on the inside
of the carving as well.
on my handbuilt and thrown vases, jars tiles and trays. Much of my subject matter is found in my large
garden, but not all of it. Large tropical leaves and flowers especially attract me. I try to carve in such
a way that the botanical images compliment each other, but aren’t necessarily growing together at
the same time in nature.
All the designs are one of a kind. After building or throwing the piece, the clay is allowed to get fairly
hard on the surface. I then draw the design that I wish on the work. Most of the time I just look at the
form of the piece and then decide which design I think would best suit the shape. I then carve out the
designs, taking away clay along the edges of the lines as I go. Often there are leaf lines on the inside
of the carving as well.
After all the designs are carved, I
sponge the whole work down to
smooth out the rough edges. It is
then wrapped in plastic overnight
to allow the moisture on the inside
and outside of the work to even
out. Then the piece is dried. After
two kiln firings to both dry the work
completely and apply the glaze, the
piece is finally finished. Usually
each piece takes between 4 or 5
hours to make from start to finish.
My glazes are generally colors
found in nature and consist of
various shades of green, brown,
gold, black, white and occasionally
blue. The stoneware that I use is
very white, so that the glazes show
up well, and the glaze pools in all
the depressions of the carved
lines. The final work is beautiful as
well as functional.
sponge the whole work down to
smooth out the rough edges. It is
then wrapped in plastic overnight
to allow the moisture on the inside
and outside of the work to even
out. Then the piece is dried. After
two kiln firings to both dry the work
completely and apply the glaze, the
piece is finally finished. Usually
each piece takes between 4 or 5
hours to make from start to finish.
My glazes are generally colors
found in nature and consist of
various shades of green, brown,
gold, black, white and occasionally
blue. The stoneware that I use is
very white, so that the glazes show
up well, and the glaze pools in all
the depressions of the carved
lines. The final work is beautiful as
well as functional.