Robin Ralston Frelier

Clay, with its versatility, has become my ultimate medium for exploration. Color and texture are the driving forces behind my work. Clay offers a vast range of opportunities to experiment with these elements. While I enjoy working in other mediums and with their techniques, I am always guided by a central question - “How does this inform my work with clay?” _
I think of clay as my canvas. It is a dynamic (at times three-dimensional) surface upon which I can innovate. Building my own canvases is the first of many freedoms that I enjoy in the creative process. Pigmented slips and engobes, serving as my paints, allow me to incorporate artistic techniques such as monoprinting, stamping, and carving through colored layers as in cold wax. Through the firing process, I have distinct opportunities in which I can enhance the colors as well as bringing forth new ones. Adding glazes before the high fire phase can often feel like “painting in the dark” and at times feels risky. The results can go one of two ways, adding just the desired touch or detracting from the overall piece. This part of the process has taken me years to fully appreciate, understanding the role that glazes play in my work. Recently I have pushed my creative boundaries beyond the final firing stage by integrating materials traditionally associated with other artistic disciplines: watercolor, acrylic, cold wax, pencil, charcoal and paper collage. These explorations deepen my connection to clay, expanding its potential as a medium for storytelling and expression. I am equally drawn to the challenges of working in clay, which I embrace as part of the process of discovery and growth. Working with clay has taught me many valuable life lessons, patience and non-attachment chief among them. Through my work, I celebrate the endless possibilities of clay while honoring its inherent challenges. Each piece reflects a journey of discovery through process.