As I work, I feel a reverence for the land in my hands, shaping it with care to honor its origins. My goal isn’t to mask its natural beauty, but to enhance it, inviting a deeper connection to the earth’s essence. Through every curve and imprint, I hope to reveal the story that lies within the clay, connecting us more intimately to the spirit of the earth.
Horsehair Raku
The origin of Horsehair Raku Pottery is not known for sure but there is a story of a Native American Pueblo women that accidentally created the technique. As she was removing clay pots from her kiln when the wind blew her hair, and it came into contact with the hot pot. The hair created a pattern on the pot. This intrigued her and from then on, she tried using other materials such as straw, feathers and horsehair. The horsehair created the most dramatic patterns and thus horsehair pottery was born.
Another story tells of Native Americans creating Horsehair Pottery as a way to honor and immortalize some of their greatest horses.
Regardless of its origin, every piece of Horsehair Raku Pottery is a unique piece of artwork that can never be replicated.
Raku ~ Japanese word for "Joy"
With the Horsehair lighting series, its like an enchanting dance between light and shadow, form and fire. By making the lights as transparent as possible, it allows the horsehair imprints to reveal themselves fully—those deep, fluid strokes of black becoming the centerpiece, illuminated and alive. The effect feels almost mystical, as if each light holds a story told in smoke and flame, honoring each fiery moment when the horsehair touched the searing clay. It’s as though the light gives a voice to the ephemeral beauty of that instant, casting warm, textured shadows that lets each piece breathe and flicker with life. Every lighting piece becomes not just an object but a luminous echo of transformation, a window into the raw and spirited process that brought it to light.
Handmade ceramics tiles embody a unique charm, embracing their individuality is key. The slight imperfections, variations in dimensions, and distinctive glazes all contribute to the personality of each tile. Just as no two people are alike, no two tiles are identical, and we celebrate these nuances as part of the beauty of handmade craftsmanship. This character adds warmth and authenticity to your spaces, ensuring that your design feels truly special and personal. Each tile tells a story, inviting you to create a home that reflects your unique style.
Most of the Horsehair Raku surfaces are not glazed; rather, the piece is covered in several layers of terra sigillata and hand polished to a smooth finish. I apply real horsehair on the surface, which leaves fascinating marks when the piece is fired. Signed on bottom. Each piece is unique and will vary. In the past Raku was decorative use only; however, there is a new product on the market, called Liquid Quarts, made in Australia. This product has made it possible for the porous material to now hold liquids.
Clay sculpting is an invitation to an intimate dance between myself as the artist and material. Every press, pinch, and sweep of the hands breathes life into the form. The pliability of clay feels alive under my touch, almost as if it remembers each gesture, capturing the flow of emotion from artist to medium. There’s a raw honesty in building up shapes this way—starting with nothing but an idea, shaping it with one’s fingers, palms, or even whole body movements. The process is grounding, yet transformative, as though each layer added deepens the work's soul, and through it, a part of my artistic expression is etched into every curve and contour.
Tableware, when viewed as art, is a harmonious blend of functionality and aesthetic beauty. Each piece tells a story—not just through form and texture, but in the way it’s used in daily rituals. Plates, bowls, cups, and serving dishes are crafted with a careful attention to shape and proportion, designed to enhance the experience of a meal while adding warmth and charm to any table setting.
In the hands of an artist, the smooth curves of a bowl or the delicate lip of a cup become canvases for glaze, where subtle hues, splashes, and patterns reflect the natural elements of earth and fire. Some pieces feature rough, earthy textures that evoke a sense of raw, unrefined beauty, while others are polished and refined, with glossy finishes that catch and play with light. This dual nature—serving both as functional objects and as sculptural forms—imbues pottery tableware with a unique, tactile connection, transforming the ordinary act of dining into an intimate, artful experience.
All Rights Reserved | Liz Browrigg Art
Designed By Candice. M. White
Liz Brownrigg ART
Northern Ontario, Canada
C/T/WA 705-207-7024