My journey with clay has been a life long one, I grew up in a potters studio. I am a second-generation artist. I find myself blessed and fortunate to study under master ceramicist, Miky and the late Steve Cunningham. (Aka Mom and Dad) I began doing shows in 2012 as an emerging artist at the Des Moines Arts Festival. I studied at the University of Iowa, receiving a BA in Health and Human Physiology,  Psychology, and a minor in Dance. But through it all I maintained my passion and love for art, particularly ceramics. I continue to explore the endless possibilities and versatility of clay. I am not a potter but an artist. Clay is my vehicle of choice to transport my imagination into the physical world.

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My current predominant processes are achieved through Sgraffito and Mishima.  Sgraffito, “A form of decoration made by scratching through a surface to reveal a lower layer of a contrasting color, typically done in slip on ceramics before firing.” I love the bold graphicness of the black and white finish and to top it off by adding a pop of color. Through Mishima, I can create a similar boldness through an opposite way of thinking and working. Mishima is " a technique of inlaying slip, underglaze, or even clay into a contrasting clay body." This technique allows for extremely fine, intricate design work with hard, sharp edges that can be difficult to achieve in any other way. 

I use B-clay from Continental Clay for both graffito and sculpting. I finish my work in a cone 6 oxidation firing. Some pieces continue on and receive luster.

​In the end pieces are assembled into whimsical conversation starters. 

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Email: HelloImReiko@gmail.com | Instagram: @HelloImReiko | Facebook: HelloImReiko

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