A brief description? Well... being many things and constantly changing makes that somewhat difficult. Think I'll confine this to how I discovered what I want to be when I grow up and why.

My sister and I grew up among an eclectic mixture of antiques, contemporary pieces, Asian artwork, innumerable books and an often toured specimen garden. A corner of our kitchen was my mother’s painting studio and the garden an extension of her canvas. From early childhood we were exposed to numerous artistic disciplines and amply supplied with materials. I always loved doing anything creative and wanted to be as accomplished as my mother, grandmother and great grandmother were.

In 1996 I saw an organic porcelain form in a shop window that was unlike any ceramic piece I had seen and said, “If I worked with clay I’d like to make things like that. Not exactly like it, but with the same feeling it has.” The next day I enrolled in a beginning wheel class. I was hooked yet, true to form, disliked the limitations the instructor imposed so at the end of the class began a self-taught exploration of the ceramic medium.

I love the infinite possibilities, stretching the limits and exposing the nature of each piece. While there may be similarities of form, each is unique, with a distinct personality and energy of its own. Connecting to that energy feels like an intimate whispered conversation that you must be quiet and focused to hear. It looks like shadows on the form of the alterations to be made, the design to carve or paint. For me, the process is more than the physical production of a form. It’s also a mental, emotional and spiritual journey. It’s the most perfect and instinctive thing I’ve ever done.

The pieces I produce are interpretations or expressions of many things that inspire or influence me; from the natural world to art, from childhood memories to architecture, from the gamut of human emotions to the wanderings of my mind.

Thanks for visiting and I hope you enjoy!

Grace Cumings

Favorite Medium
Porcelain first and then anything else

Occupation:
Ceramist

Interests and hobbies:
Reading, gardening, music, art and architecture, historic renovations, decorating, painting, ecology

I would like to meet:
Peter Lane, Arne Ase, Steven Hill, Dale Chihuly, Elaine Coleman, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn, BB King, Etta James, Yul Brenner, The Dalai Lama, my ancestors, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Merlin, Draco

Favorite bands and musicians:
Eric Clapton, Etta James, Stevie Ray Vaughn, BB King, Ben Harper, Norah Jones, Staind, 9 Inch Nails, U2, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC... way too long to list

Favorite movies:
Shawshank Redemption, Places In The Heart, Rain Man, Dances With Wolves. Quite a few actually, just can't think right now.

Favorite blogs and websites:
www.arthritis.org

Favorite places:
With few exceptions, I enjoy most any place. After 3 years in northern Europe though, somewhere warm is always great.

Favorite artists:
Arne Ase, Peter Lane, Steven Hill, Dale Chihuly, Ansel Adams, Michael Angelo, Frank Lloyd Wright