My work is a contemporary representation of traditional San Ildefonso Pueblo designs. I like to decorate my pottery with heishi (shell beads), turquoise and heishi turquoise. I use ceramic stains to achieve precise color separations in my work. I no longer burnish my work and use primarily polychrome slips. I use surgical blades to incise all my designs. Handmade clay plates are difficult to make, but trial and error over the years has enabled me to perfect the skill of building large plates. Breathing life into the clay is extremely rewarding.
The clays I gather from Mother Earth sustain me and provide me with a spiritual sense of well-being. I was touched by the Creator and blessed with my artistic talent late in my life so that I could work side-by-side with my father and at the same time take care of my diabetic mother. They are both gone now, but I will hold close to my heart the time I spent with them during this period of personal and spiritual "re-awakening." Their spirit moves through me and lies within each piece of pottery I create.
My artistic career is dedicated to my mother and father. With each purchase you take a piece of my soul with you.
| Home |
Recommend this website to a friend!
 |
John Gonzales 915 Central Drive Coulee Dam, WA 99116 Phone: 509-633-9858 saninative@msn.com |
|
© 2008 John Gonzales
This page was last updated on Tuesday, 26-Sep-2006 14:10:46 EDT.