Black leaf bud vase #4

Black porcelain bud vase with decorative leaves. Approximate height 9cm.

My bud vases are an abstract expression of life with chronic illness - a chance to make something beautiful out of the pain. I start with a simple hand-built cylindrical form, then add coils or spheres of clay in organic patterns. While I'm making them, I'm not thinking about much, but the inspiration is a kind of musing on the excesses and interruptions of a disabled body, an attempt to make tactile the hidden processes occurring in tissues, nerves, and bodily systems.

These bud vases are the perfect size for displaying small bouquets of hand-picked flowers. Or maybe you're looking for an artwork for your office, that can also double as a very ornate pen holder. Whatever purpose you find for them, I hope they can bring you as much joy as they did for me in their creation.