Out of the Fire Clay Sculpture by Cindy Biles

In the studio:

I am a clay sculptor, creating primarily figurative work. My sculptures tell stories of life events that many of us experience, though we may respond to or be impacted by them differently.

What makes this medium special to me:

I love working with clay. It has its rules and you must respect them. Glazes can be another story—no matter how many glaze tests you run, you can still be surprised. Unlike in painting, most of glazing is chemistry and there are so many variables. You can make educated guesses, but in the end you have to let the kiln work its magic.

Even after many years, the whole process is still very magical to me.

Each piece has a special meaning to me, though I like to leave room for a variety of interpretations or perhaps a bit of ambiguity. The viewer, who may have a very different set of life experiences, may respond to a piece in a way I had not intended or anticipated. I always appreciate hearing the reactions of others to my work.

Outside of the studio: I am an artist-in-the-schools, and love working with students of all ages and abilities. Many times, they are my teachers!