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When I was a child in elementary school my art teacher told my parents with me nearby that "your child lacks any artistic talent and really does not need to do art classes". This always bothered me and for these reasons, I did not take ANY art classes in middle school, high school or college- truly believing I lacked even a shred  of artistic talent. I cannot draw and painting is a huge struggle. In 2015, I decided my life of detailed planning, structure and and logic which had defined my three professional careers needed balance with my creative side and I decided to try working with clay as a medium. I was hooked on my first day. I began to explore this creative side of my brain and felt at peace and relaxation as well as my hands moved through the clay to create forms and images. I literally moved earth in form! 

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I do only hand building and sculpting of clay and do not use the potter's wheel. Hand building ceramic pieces is more time intensive and requires many tools to achieve desired textures and designs. Most of my work to date over the last few years has focused on the main area of animals, nature scenes; vessels of unique structure- deep carved and textured; sculpture of creatures and a retro series. Some of my work uses colored slips and underglazing and does not involve glazes except those that are fired through Raku process.  I have ventured into new work such as mugs, vases and platters and other functional and decorative pieces. I have also developed a particular collection of birds, turtles, butterflies and dragons and other fun and fantasy characters, some of which are planters! 

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I was formerly working out of Coyote Clay in Albuquerque but in fall of 2022, I began work on developing my own studio in Edgewood, NM which I named Enchanted East Mountain Studio- the new home of UCAA ceramics which will fully open by January 2023!. 

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I know my work remains in development and I am years away from achieving any level of richness which defines artists far more talented than myself. I had a great ceramics instructor who has inspired me to pursue this work in clay and I still have much to learn and explore in this medium. I have been taken intensive ceramic workshops and classes for several years now  with experts in this field to hone my skills. I would like to have a chat however with that elementary school art teacher because her words kept me from trying any art for decades and that was a loss- if only to myself. I believe we all need forms or art and expression to create and appreciate and it enriches life and gives each of us the creativity to find balance in a world which often seems very unbalanced. 

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I hope you like my ceramic creations. Moving earth into form!

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Peace , Melissa 

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