Susan Catt

Susan Catt

Relics made by ancient man and found items in nature have greatly influenced the slab and/or coil ceramic pieces I construct. My work combines my keen interest in both history and nature. I like to incorporate textures such as a tree bark or coral look as well as interesting woven or pressed material patterns. I also enjoy adding effects through carving or scraping the clay. My desire is to make items that provoke thought and add a bit of “art for art’s sake” to life.

My building process is not planned beyond the textures I often initially roll into the clay. I follow how the mood sways me and where the clay seems to want to go. Before taking a ceramics class at Vincennes University in the early 1980s, I was attracted to both oil and acrylic painting. I was not excited about ceramics because it looked so messy. I soon got over that and fully embraced the freedom afforded me with clay as a medium. Our professor pushed us to explore pinch pots, coil, and slab construction as well as mastering wheel throwing. The latter was just not as fun to me as carving out some clay, so that’s what I do.