The Inspiration Behind The New Collection
I began this year with a desire to change things up in the studio and make a new body of work. I launched my signature Marbled Collection five years ago and felt like it was time to move in a different direction.
Since last year, I've been gravitating towards warm desert colors. Rust, terra-cotta, red clay...colors that make you feel more grounded and connected to the earth. I've always tried to get a terra-cotta colored porcelain slip but never fully achieved that. That is until my triaxial blend test earlier this year, which gave birth to the Terra-porcelain colors in my new collection. A range of porcelain slips that are tinted with a custom blend of mason stains.
The colors are very beautiful in their raw, unglazed state, so for this collection, I wanted to highlight that. Think raw and refined. The terra porcelain pieces in my collection are left unglazed on the exterior with a gloss glaze interior. Gold luster has always been a part of my work in previous collections and I wanted to find a way to use it to accentuate the surface design. The raised surfaces and the carved lines are all glazed in a gloss glaze and brushed with gold to create a contrast between the raw clay surface and the shiny gold metal details.
This new collection was made in small batches, allowing me to take my time with every piece as I work in the studio. With some of the pieces taking several days to dry out before firing in the kiln. Moving forward, my work will continue to be made slowly and intentionally with quality over quantity in mind. I hope you enjoy these pieces.
-Eliana