Ricky Maldonado

" I am the sole creator of my pieces, using the process of coil building. Although I can throw, it is much more satisfying for me using the coils. For now, my choice of clay is Terra Cotta. I am inspired by nature and architecture. When I see a color combination, a shape of a leaf or the arch in a bridge that I like, I will jot it down and will eventually incorporate it into my work. After building a piece, I will sand it smooth and then burnish it with my hands using the natural oils from my skin or a very small amount of olive oil. Then, I polish it with soft plastic that I collect from the dry cleaners. Once I've sanded and burnished my piece, I mark the piece using a soft pencil, and continue to mark as I rotate the piece in front of me. Then I draw from dot to dot until the design is finished, the pieces are green as I work on them. I then apply black slip where I have drawn my design. I then apply the glaze one dot at a time, using a small sable brush. The piece is then fired." - Ricky Maldonado

To see more of his work go to http://www.rickymaldonado.com/