Angel Brame

Bio

My initial love in art was paint. I love the ability of paint to be manipulated to create color and texture on a flat surface that draws your attention and makes you want to reach out and touch it. I left an incredible art department in high school and headed to a university setting where I developed an ugly case of burnout. I took a break, got married, changed careers, and achieved my first Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources.

After years of “no art,” I took a local pottery class for therapy. I was hooked. I found myself in the local community clay center several days a week and wanted more. I went back to school for my second Bachelor’s Degree in Studio Art. Finishing what I started right after high school was a personal goal that meant more to me than I ever imagined it could.

Clay is my way of thinking outside of the box and outside of my comfort zone while having some fun playing in the mud. I have found that clay offers me things that paint cannot. Clay gives me the challenge of transforming a lump of mud into something useful through the utilization of the spinning wheel and my own dexterity and coordination. It makes me think ten steps ahead so that I may be successful in that transformation. It gives me what I consider to be a bonus. Once I am done with the creation process, I can still revert back to my love of color and texture with slip and glazes. I not only have my useful platter, but a canvas to paint on as well. For me, this is the best of all worlds.

Artist Statement

“Re-purpose, Re-engineer, and Relocate”

My initial love in art was paint.  I love the ability of paint to be manipulated to create color and texture on a flat surface that draws your attention and makes you want to reach out and touch it.  In recent years, I have discovered the joy of clay.

As a production potter, clay offers me the challenge of transforming a lump of mud into something useful through the utilization of the spinning wheel and my own dexterity and coordination.  It makes me think ten steps ahead so that I may be successful in that transformation.  Clay is a continuous tactile adventure that is full of challenge and constant learning. 

In 2017, I challenged myself to create one piece per day, every day.  These pieces were small and functional, but forced me to learn new techniques and explore a variety of vessels in order to stay engaged and disciplined.  Pieces were finished in multiple firing methods with eventual additions of legs, wings, wheels, etc.  Once that challenge was complete, it was time to consider the next project that would incorporate all that I had learned.

The premise of the current body of work is creatures taking found objects and giving them a new purpose.  Phases one and two revolve around “MacGyver-ing” objects into escape vehicles.  As much as possible of each found object is made from clay, from the vintage camera to the tricycle to the vacuum cleaner.  Once each piece is fired, a cold finish of acrylic, enamel, and resin is used.  Final details come in the form of plastic, glass, wood, and small findings.  

Phase three revolves around the critters taking found objects and giving them a new function, from a soccer ball turned cheese cloche to a rocket turned salt shaker. Each piece is hand-painted with underglaze.

I have found a way to combine my love of clay and paint to push my own boundaries in an exciting direction.  In fabricating every day objects out of clay and  finishing them with paint or underglaze, I have joined two worlds and opened up endless possibilities.  Each completed piece sparks a new idea with fresh challenges full of problem solving and exhilaration to start the next one.  Working sculpturally forces me to not only think ten steps ahead, but outside of any box. 

Exhibitions