Rhonda Cearlock

"The exciting part is the assembly; I just let the magic happen."

Ceramic artist Rhonda Cearlock is inspired by the patchwork of fields, the change of seasons, the rising and setting of the sun, and the textures of landscapes. Working in clay for over thirty years, she uses these influences to guide her richly organic contemporary work. Her studio is nestled in the woods and overlooks a lake.

Cearlock's work is made up of many clay elements. The pieces are extruded, hand-built, slumped, and press molded. Chosen pieces are then textured using hand-built clay stamps and found objects with interesting patterns. The pieces are fired in a homemade kiln or pit-fired, then are assembled and painted with acrylic paint.

Rhonda Cearlock studied ceramics at Eastern Illinois University. She has a BA and an MA in ceramics and sculpture.