I like the idea of telling stories with clay because it connects people to one another and helps explain who we are as individuals and as a community. My experiences as a parent and educator eventually informed who I am as an artist and strengthened my desire to express common threads of the human experience by using the figure, imagery and gesture as powerful narrative tools.
My current work uses the figure and infuses color and a nod to cubism. To me, color represents optimism and expression of the possibilities of life. The surfaces are not only colorful but hold a certain degree of imperfection, which symbolizes an important part of each person’s life.
The sculptures are coil built with stoneware clay. The slips, oxides and glazes are applied in layers to add depth and fired at cone 04. A glazing technique that encourages crazing adds more dimension to the surface. When a black overglaze is applied to the multi-fired surface and sprayed off, the black settles into the cracks and crevices giving the surface a sketch-like appearance. Lewis likes to provide enough details to draw the viewer in but leave some mystery to the intent.