I sculpt and hand-paint flowers and floral arrangements from a specialty clay. The majority of the arrangements I make are orchids- in all their variety and beauty- but I make several other flower varieties as well. I can also vary the size of the flowers and arrangements. While the life-size arrangements are stunning in their realism, many people enjoy miniature versions.Unique hand-crafted flowers
My arrangements of clay flowers are crafted using techniques I learned in Thailand. The arrangements consist entirely of clay with the exception of adhesive, paint, and thin wires that support the larger pieces. The clay I use is a mixture of a special Japanese clay and a Thai terra clay. The clay is not fired; the arrangements are air dried and the final product is slightly pliable, though a bit fragile.
Constructing the flowers and arrangements is time consuming and involves several steps. I first mix the clay with oil paint to give the clay its base color. Next, I flatten the clay and then individually cut and shape the petal and leaf pieces using specially designed tools. After the pieces air-dry for about 24 hours, I hand-paint the pieces to match the fine detail and subtle shading of actual flowers. I then assemble the various pieces into whole flowers, adding stems made of clay supported by wire.
Finally, I place the individual flowers into a pre-selected pot, a piece of driftwood, or another medium. The “base” can greatly enhance the character of the arrangement, and I take great care in matching the base with the arrangement.
