Kathleen Crook

Ceramics and jewelry

I look for ways in which I can bring meaningful artwork into our everyday life. The making of utilitarian objects has long been my passion. The meditative quality of making pots is grounding, centering and the clay in my hands is a connection to earth. I have always been drawn to tiles and am currently painting on pre-made tiles as this gives me a standard “canvas” to work on.

The glaze I use is a tin glaze called Maiolica or Majolica which was developed in Europe during the Renaissance, and now in Italy (where I have traveled) ceramics with exquisite painting is as traditional as wine. While I adore and emulate the fine work of these ceramic painters, I find my inspiration and then the path to my creations is to walk down the expression of realism, firmly put my brush down and an abstract rendition emerges. With lines that waver, colors that betray reality, and glaze surfaces that defy perfection, I embrace the depth that they impart. Finding the sweet spot somewhere between perfection and disaster is the target I aim for in this collection.

All of my pieces are one of a kind. Collage earrings are made from up-cycled magazines and cardboard boxes with beads. My work is intuitive with color and shape and that is how the beads are chosen. Finally, paintings are often a rare addition to my collection. I came through the back door as a painter through my ceramic experimentation. I hope you enjoy my journey as an artist as much as I have.