:: ABOUT THE ARTIST ::
Lorel's experience with clay began in high-school when an understanding Art teacher seeing her love of "mud" left her in the ceramics studio the whole year. She proceeded on to study fine arts at Thompson Rivers University (Kamloops) and then Emily Carr College of Art and Design (Vancouver) before returning to Kamloops to set up her studio. As her work became more sought after by galleries and customers, she was able to make pottery and ceramic art a full-time occupation. She has shown and sold her work in BC, Alberta and Ontario through galleries, high-end gift shops and juried shows for over twenty years.
Lorel creates her raku art pieces in her studio near Heffley Lake, on the way to Sun Peaks ski resort in BC. Living amongst nature strongly influences her work today, with many motifs such as loons, herons, eagles, etc., from the area adorning her decorative clay-work. Much of her work is begun on the pottery wheel and altered or as images drawn into the wet clay so that each piece becomes a distinctive piece of art. She also works with hand building techniques to create sculptures, wall pieces , murals and decorative tiles.
The unusual colors, patterns and metallic finishes on her work result from the Raku firing. When the glaze has melted, pieces are removed red-hot from the kiln with tongs and sealed in a bed of combustible material. The rapid cooling and resulting flame and smoke causes glazes to luster or crackle as they harden and mean that no two pieces are alike. Raku is a low fired porous pottery and best for dried arrangements unless treated with a clay pot sealer. To clean, simply rinse with plain water or mild dish soap and dry with a soft cloth
:: ARTIST'S STATEMENT ::
"My lifetime endeavour has been to achieve excellence in form and function, to master the ability to make in clay what I can imagine, and to achieve a response from the viewer. A gasp of appreciation as a person enters our gallery, or a chuckle as they see one of my more whimsical works is almost as rewarding as having a customer decide they just can't live without a piece that speaks to them. It always amazes me that my work finds its way all over the world and that people can get such pleasure from something that I have created with my hands."
