Jane Kaufmann - Secret Drink of the Smart and Sassy - Raku Clay

Wisdom Bottle Series - Yellow

Secret Drink of the Smart and Sassy

raku clay

8" high

I work everyday in my attic studios making sculptures out of clay. After firing the pieces once in an electric kiln, I raku them in my driveway. Raku is a method of firing where red hot pieces are taken from a kiln with tongs and thrown in pine needles to smoke the clay. Firing this way is physical and exciting and I enjoy it a lot.

I make whatever comes into my mind. I am not influenced by what is currently fashionable in art magazines. I get ideas from newspapers, books, my friends, Harper's magazine, tabloids, and anything else that I like. I believe and do not believe everything I read. To me things are simple and clear.

I feel it is the artist's duty to address what is going on in the world. I think the artist should do this so the work can be understood by everyone. Sometimes I write what my pieces are about directly on them just in case a person doesn't get the point. I believe that artists can help save the world - and I want to be a part of that.