Laurie Sharkus - Sculpture and tiles
Artist Statement
In my artistic journey I strive to capture the essence of the animals' wild spirit in clay. Each one of my sculptures is an original work of art. All of my work is hand sculpted out of stoneware clay. No molds are used for my sculptures but I have created molds for my tiles & masks. I do all the sculpting, firing, painting and finishing myself.
Before starting, several sketches are made while studying the animal's anatomy. Many subjects include Endangered Species, which are perched on bases depicting their shrinking environment. I want to convey the animal's inseparable connection to its vital habitat. I also enjoy sculpting whales and marine wildlife and try to capture their beauty of form, grace and flowing movement.
I use white stoneware clay and various techniques to create my animals. Some bases are made with clay slabs, the animals sculpted on top of them. Some sculptures are made solid, cut apart in sections, hollowed out and reassembled. Details are carved in when the clay reaches a 'leather hard' stage. When finished, the piece must be dried slowly for at least 2 to 3 weeks. Then the sculpture is bisque fired in an electric kiln. After bisque firing, the piece is 'smoke fired' outside in a kiln made of fire bricks. Different fuels used for the firing yield numerous effects. Sawdust, straw, hay twigs or leaves may be used as fuel. The sculpture is 'painted' by the markings left by smoke and flame. Some pieces are painted with watercolors before smoke firing. All are sealed with a protective acrylic spray afterward.
-Laurie Sharkus
Education:
-A.F.A Monroe County Community College, Monroe MI
-B.F.A Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti MI
-Studied Drawing & Art History, Florence Italy
Memberships, Awards, Exhibits & Art Shows:
-Member of The MI Guild of Artists & Artisans
-Wyandotte Street Art Fair, Wyandotte MI
Best of Show Award 2005
-Royal Oak Clay & Glass 2005, Royal Oak MI
-Detroit Festival of The Arts 2005, Detroit MI
-MI Guild Holiday Art Fair 2006, Farmington Hills MI
First Place Award Sculpture
-Exhibited 20 Sculptures in Solo Show 2006
Monroe County Community College, Monroe MI
-Exhibited at Krasl Art on the Bluff 2006, St Joseph MI
-State Street Art Fair, Ann Arbor MI
Exhibitor 2006, by invitation 2007 & 2008
-Exhibited at Black Swamp Arts Festival 2007, Bowling Green OH
-Kalamazoo Fine Art Fair 2006 & 2007
Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
Publications:
-'Following her Dream', Monroe Evening News 2006
-'Clay Times' Magazine March/April 2006
'The Gallery' One sculpture published
-'500 Animals in Clay' Lark Books 2006
3 sculptures published