Nerikomi is the ceramic technique of creating multi-colored patterns and marbled effects within clay. The patterns are embedded within the clay, as opposed to being painted onto the surface. It’s a technique with endless design possibilities, and I am most interested in its sculptural potential. The gallery below shows a series of wall-hanging sculptures inspired by NASA photographs of the planets.
First, I mix pigments with water and knead the colors into wet porcelain clay. Then I use this colored clay to make patterned blocks, by layering and compressing it. After manipulating the pattern in various ways, the end results come from slicing a cross-section of the block. These pieces of clay can be shaped in a plaster mold, or sculpted by hand, to create sculptural forms.
