TEXTURED VESSELS
Both functional objects and sculptural statements. My vessels, handmade with obsession, invite contemplation of the balances between human design and the inherent beauty of the natural world.
SALES: marina.k.sculptor@gmail.com
Petrified Ash Column Vessel / Wood-fired / 4.5" w X 9.5"h / $485
Worn Denim & Canvas Vessel / Wood-fired / 4.75"w X 3.75" h / $275
Molten Wax & Tar Vessel / Wood-fired / 4"w X 3"h / $225
Coral & Sea Foam Vessel / Wood-fired / 5"w X 4.5" H / $425
Celadon Pool / Wood-fired / 9"w X 7.75"h / $625
Etherial Crease Vessel / 5"w X 6"h / $325
Fossil Bark Vessel / $315 / 7"w X 3.25"h / SOLD
Silicon Valley Sunset / 5"w X 9.25"h / $375
MY INSPIRATION
When I create these vessels, I'm really looking at how architecture and nature echo each other. The main focus is that compelling visual rhythm you see in both worlds—those columnar and segmented structures. I pull ideas from the repetitive vertical lines in buildings, whether it's a sleek, modern high-rise or older brickwork—it's all about how things are stacked and organized. Then, I bring in the raw surfaces of nature: the deep grooves of petrified wood, the striations of desert cliffs, and fractured rock. The whole point is to take the clear, organized structure of architecture and inject it with the repetitive, organic textures of the earth. The vessels end up feeling meticulously built, but also completely natural.
MY CREATIVE PROCESS
The foundation of the vessel's unique texture is laid using a technique I call “Block Lacing.”
The process begins with hundreds of individual clay blocks, each hand-formed with a unique surface quality. These blocks are then meticulously sliced and artfully constructed in a segmented manner around the handmade vessel form. This intensive application creates the final structure—a strong, architectural element that intentionally evokes the look of packed, dry earth, petrified wood, or ancient woven fibers.
The final surface is achieved through two distinct firing methods, each yielding a different aesthetic result:
Wood Firing: This method emphasizes the natural surfaces of the raw earth, often yielding subtle textural shifts, form variations, and organic ash deposits.
Electric Firing: This process tends toward the more refined surfaces associated with building materials, allowing for cleaner definition and controlled glaze outcomes.
Wood kiln firing is a labor-intensive process where pottery is heated 2345°F by manually stoking the flames for 48 hours. The fluctuating heat & smoke create unique & unpredictable surface effects, resulting in one-of-a-kind pieces.