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Romy & Clare Creative Clay was established in 1995, but a lifelong friendship led to Romy and Clare's creative union. Our parents grew up together as friends and we were in each others' weddings. We have been friends since diaper days. After college (Romy attended Heron School of Art and Clare graduated from DePauw University with a BA in Studio Art), we played, we traveled and we both eventually made it back home to Jasper, Indiana. That's when we started putting bright paint to clay and gave the pieces to family and friends as gifts. The rest, as they say, is history. A local shop started carrying our art work. We participated in art fairs. But, our growth was mainly brought about by friends telling friends and Romy and Clare Creative Clay was born. Now, more than ten years later, here we are - a little older with new responsibilities (like children) juggling the challenges of modern day life as working mothers. We design, paint and sign all of our pieces in our studio - a one hundred year old grainery - often inhabited by cats, kids and craziness. With the spirit of fun and friendship, we hope that you enjoy our work as much as we enjoy creating each piece. If you are interested in licensing our designs, please send an email, or give us a call at 812-482-7460.
Romy & Clare Creative Clay creates three distinct types of pottery – Handpainted Dinnerware, Handmade Pottery and Raku Pottery. Though similar, all three entail different processes to achieve their final look. The Handpainted Dinnerware begins with a piece of Italian bisqueware, which is shipped to the East Coast, then delivered to us. We begin by drawing our various designs on the bisqueware. The bisqueware is painted with underglazes then dipped in cler glaze - receiving three coats of clear glaze – front & back. When all of the painting is complete, the piece is kiln-fired to nearly 1900°F. This process produces glossy, crisp colored dinnerware. Handmade Pottery is produced from what is referred to as stoneware clay, beginning as big lumps of clay. Each lump is wedged, rolled out on a slab-roller, then cut to our design and ‘slumped’ into a form that we have previously made. We then texture or carve the pieces by hand. Once the design work has been completed, each piece is allowed to dry, after which it is fired to 2000°F. Like the dinnerware, each piece is then painted with underglazes, dipped in clear glaze, topped with three coats of clear glaze, front & back, and fired again. These pieces often have a more rough-hewn quality about them due to the handmade nature of the processes. The process for making Raku Pottery begins like that of the Handmade Pottery. However, after the Raku Pottery is fired the first time, it is painted with glazes, then fired again. This time, only 2 to 4 pieces can be placed in a small kiln for firing. They are rapidly heated to 1900°F. Just as the kiln reaches this temperature, fire tongs are used to remove the pieces. They are carried outside and placed in a barrel. A small bucket of sawdust is immediately thrown into the barrel with the clay pieces. The sawdust bursts into flames due to the high temperature of the clay pieces. By lidding the barrel, the flame is extinguished and a smoke chamber is created. The clay piece absorbs the carbon from the smoke, making the unglazed areas a beautiful charcoal color. And the thermal shock (a result of the rapid cooling of the piece from 1900°F to 75°F) creates fine line cracks in the glazed areas. These cracks also absorb the carbon, which produces the crackled, wonderfully rustic look of raku. We will be happy to discuss commissions and special orders for Handmade Pottery and Raku Pottery. All but the Raku Pottery is food safe. Due to raw clay being exposed, raku pieces should not be used for serving any type of food. The Handpainted Dinnerware and the Handmade Pottery are dishwasher & microwave safe. 4409 N. Portersville Road • Jasper, IN 47546 • 812-482-7460 • info@romyandclare.com © 2006-2008 Romy & Clare, LLC, all rights reserved, duplication or use of the |
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