My inspiration behind “Do You See What I See” centers on wonder, curiosity, and shared perspective. The three small penguins, positioned with their gazes directed upwards and outwards, embody a moment of collective awe – perhaps observing the stars, a passing cloud, or a dazzling display of the aurora borealis. The grouping suggests a primal, communal experience where each penguin witnesses the same spectacle but interprets it uniquely. This is a common theme in art: the shared human (or avian) experience of facing the vastness of the world, where the beauty is found not just in the sight itself, but in the innocent, shared act of looking.

These little guys were created with the raku process. Raku is a dramatic, rapid firing technique that originated in Japan and was popularized in the West for its unique aesthetic. After the initial kiln firing, the glazed ceramic piece is quickly removed from the hot kiln while it is still glowing hot. It is immediately placed into a reduction chamber – a metal container filled with combustible materials like sawdust or shredded paper. The resulting smoke and flame are starved of oxygen, causing a chemical reaction that “reduces” the oxygen in the glaze and clay. This process creates the distinctive black crackle pattern in the glaze, and turns any unglazed clay a deep, smoky black.