Stories are to be told and the possibilities are endless for anyone that lives inside a storybook.  Re-creating these storybook characters is my way to live inside the fairytales and share the stories that I love.

 

In this exhibit I have chosen characters from Rumpelstiltskin, Cinderella, Rapunzel and The Selection Series by Kiera Cass.  In each story that I read there is a moment when the characters reveal themselves and I become inspired to bring them to life through ceramics and book arts.   

 

Inspiration for my work comes from Arthur Rackham’s fairy tale illustrations, Su Blackwell’s paper sculptures and Robert Arneson’s ceramic sculptures.  While each of their work is different, they all illustrate stories with their own unique point of view, which gives viewers a greater insight into their subjects.

 

My process is to select a story and then delve into the character’s mind in order to discover what makes them unique, complex and intriguing.  Next, I do research that involves, for example, how to prepare a working spinning wheel and period clothing.  I stay true to the characters, but bring my own unique perspective.  What I want to accomplish is to create a setting for the audience so they can experience the characters more fully in each of the stories.