Kirk House & Gardens Artist Studio

THE CREATIVE PROCESS

Each object is made from earthenware or porcelain clay in liquid form (slip) which is poured into handmade plaster of Paris molds and allowed to dry. The hardened clay (greenware) is then removed from the molds and hand sculpted to achieve the distinctive Mary Kirk Kelly style before bisque firing. After this firing, metallic oxide colorants are applied with either brush or sponge to capture the realism which is so highly valued by collectors. Delicate attachments are also hand sculpted and then applied with slip before firing and glazing.

THE STUDIO

The studio/workshop of ceramic artist Mary Kirk Kelly has produced fine quality fruits and vegetables since the 1970s. Under her direction, the studio has become renowned for its creativity, painstaking attention to detail, and the large variety of ceramic pieces it produces. Throughout the year, colorful baskets filled with kiwi, mangos, bananas, open English peas, turnips, and Irish potatoes are carefully packed and shipped to collectors and retail outlets in the United States and abroad. In recent years, whimsical containers such as cabbage leaf teapots and serving dishes as well as eggplants, squash, apples, pears, and peaches decorated with leaves, vines, and blossoms have added a new dimension to her work. For additional information, please call 251/675-8723.