Vicki Grant

"Porcupine quills, fossils, stones, feathers, wood and shells are basic building blocks that are incorporated in my work. As an artist, I transform clay using gifts from nature. I have always felt that the most amazing forms, structures, colors, and textures are found within nature and that exposure to these elements have been my inspiration and teacher."

The inception of each piece of Grant's work is found in her sketchbooks. This is where the idea starts. It will then evolve into architectural plans, sections, elevations, and perspective drawings, reflective of her 30 years of practicing architecture. Working with her hands to develop the shape, design, and patterns in the porcelain is a joyful and rewarding process.

Grant's textural ceramics reflect her inner exploration of balancing the uniqueness of natural elements within the landscape of each piece. She has perfected her process—each piece is hand carved, pigments are hand-rubbed into the "nooks and crannies," and then each is embellished with natural stones, shells, and fossils.

The work expresses the evolution of her life experiences. In practicing architecture for 30 years, she explored the rather complex processes of manipulating form, texture, material, and color to create emotional response from people. Her artwork is a continuation of that process on a more intimate scale. Connecting with the viewer, at both intellectual and emotional levels, remains the ultimate goal.