“Normally clay comes in 25 pound blocks. I cut each block in half and then I stretch it to thin it and finally roll it on my home-made slab roller into a uniform thickness. I can then cut out different forms and shape them over various objects of metal, wood, plastic and plaster to help model the clay into basic three dimensional shapes. Sometimes several forms are joined into one complex shape. The shape is refined using simple tools—mostly my hands and small hand tools.” This process gives her art a distinct look that exudes the feeling of having been lovingly shaped by hand.
 

And what guides her directions? “I’m inspired by simplicity, pleasing proportion, the Japanese aesthetic of wabi sabi (finding beauty in imperfection, decay), modernism especially furniture and textiles. Perfection, apparently, isn’t part of my lexicon. My garden rows are never straight, corners are never square. I prefer to see the process in the work. I avoid overworking the clay and let the materials guide me. The color palate I work with is chosen because it all works well together and reflects the natural environment. The feel of the clay in my hands is a driving force.”

 

You know a Sally Change cup was made by hand. You see and feel the artist every time you use it. “I want people to enjoy interacting with my work on a daily basis. I endeavor to create the favorite mug or the dish that always gets chosen first out of the stack. Customers tell me of their delight when one of my serving dishes becomes the perfect complement for a favorite recipe. Or, that eating off my dishes makes them feel like they’re in a wonderful restaurant.  Thank you Sally!