David Frankel

In David Frankel's own words:

I make decorative stoneware plates and platters of various sizes and shapes. I start each piece by rolling out a slab of smooth stoneware clay. I then shape it using a form, such as a metal platter. Next, I imprint an attractive pattern, usually from lace fabrics. I smooth any rough edges before it is bisque fired. Then I glaze it, using at least two different glazes. Through experimentation, I have found some combinations that produce pleasing colors and highlight the imprinted design. Finally, the work is fired to Cone 10 (2250 degrees F) in a gas-fired kiln.

I have been making and selling original pottery since 1996. Prior to my training in pottery, I worked with a variety of art media, including pencil, oil, acrylic, and watercolor. In 2007, I was elected to membership in the Potters Guild of Ann Arbor (www.pottersguild.net), a cooperative studio founded in 1950.

I am fascinated by the creative process of making pottery. The artistic options are unlimited because clay is such a flexible material. I like having such a wide choice of objects to make, processes to use, and variables to control (size, shape, thickness, patterns, texture, etc.) Then, after bisque firing, there is a fascinating array of choices for the surface decoration with various stains and glazes. I enjoy making decorative pieces that bring some beauty into the lives of those who receive them.