Kate Underwood Artworks

It all starts with a ball of clay. I love the flexibility of clay. I might throw a simple bowl, but I can bring it to life with a painting or a sculptural element. I like the play of function and sculpture. It might be a teapot, but it has a bird perched on the lid for a knob. I want to capture the essence of my subjects. My birds look as if they are about to take flight, preen their feathers, or feed their chicks. My sculptural techniques vary depending on the size of the piece. Most of my birds start as pinch pots. With larger pieces, I build a basic form with paper, then drape a slab over it. If I don't add a sculptural element to a pot, I decorate it using underglaze painting and inlay. Each of my pieces is unique.