Sculptural Tree

My inspiration has always come from nature and what I am surrounded by. The colours I use are usually chosen for their vibrancy, contrast and to enhance the texture of the clay. The immediacy of the process is an integral part of the final product. Seeing the markings in the clay and being able to see and touch a raw part of the clay body allows the piece to speak of its true nature, which is of the earth. In the past year, I have enjoyed taking walks in the Gorges National Parks and climbing most of the mountains on Mauritius. This is a cooler time and the tropical trees drop their giant leaves which form a carpet of orange and brown on the paths. There is also an endemic bird in the tree (a fody) to give reference to the very rare little bird that only lives on this island. The base of the tree is standing on a local clay slip that I have applied to reference the earth of Mauritius.