Artist Info

Note from the Artist:

I have created art as long as I can remember. As a child I can remember sculpting ducks out of my mothers pie dough, it was baked in the oven and then treasured. At that time my parents and I had no idea it was my true gift and love from God. I favored drawing and painting through out my school years. I loved studying nature, light and shadow. After high school I met my husband and he encouraged me to attend Kendall College of Art and Design. There, I worked with many mediums with great success. I had work excepted in the Society of Illustrators and Graduated from Kendall College of Art with honors and the top of my class. I worked as a freelance artist for the next year and began showing at art shows. Always enjoying a new experience, I decided to give clay a try and I crossed another bridge in my career.
I use porcelain clay, I find it’s fine texture is perfect for the small sculptures and details. I form my pieces from my imagination and realize my illustration background really shows through in my subject. Some of my pieces have been known to be whimsical and they can make you laugh out loud. I love to challenge myself and create a piece with a wildlife theme yet keep it a piece of Art. All of my pieces are hand formed from a block of clay. I sculpt, pinch and pull it into an original form. I allow each newly created ware to air dry completely before firing it. I then apply multi layers of stains and finishes. Some of my work is mounted on driftwood, while others are sold as groupings.

In the past 11 years I have been experimenting with glass. I began placing found glass in my kiln and melting it to many different stages. With research and additional experimentation I found great pleasure in this new medium. I felt as if I was using another part of my brain and this new medium was very addictive. I could express wonderful feelings with color, and my layering technique added an additional thought process with light. I have found working large to be very satisfying and added to the thought process of stability and aesthetics. Incorperating glass, clay and even drift wood has allowed my artwork to remain fresh and ever changing. I'm creating window art, jewelry and wall sculptures. Custom work is welcome and keeps the kilns hot.

I feel we are all bless with a talent and when we share it with others it becomes a true gift. I 'm very blessed to have such a talent and my gallery is a wonderful way to share it. Please stop in sometime, there is always something new to see. Enjoy!
Jill Barnes