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Laurie Sharkus -
Sculpture and tiles 
Artist Statement
In my artistic journey I
strive to capture the essence of the animals' wild spirit in
clay. Each one of my sculptures is an original work of
art. All of my work is hand sculpted out of stoneware
clay. No molds are used for my sculptures but I have created
molds for my tiles & masks. I do all the sculpting,
firing, painting and finishing myself.
Before starting, several sketches are made while
studying the animal's anatomy. Many subjects include
Endangered Species, which are perched on bases depicting their
shrinking environment. I want to convey the animal's
inseparable connection to its vital habitat. I also enjoy
sculpting whales and marine wildlife and try to capture their beauty
of form, grace and flowing movement. 
I use white stoneware clay and various
techniques to create my animals. Some bases are made with clay
slabs, the animals sculpted on top of them. Some sculptures
are made solid, cut apart in sections, hollowed out and
reassembled. Details are carved in when the clay reaches a
'leather hard' stage. When finished, the piece must be dried
slowly for at least 2 to 3 weeks. Then the sculpture is bisque
fired in an electric kiln. After bisque firing, the piece is
'smoke fired' outside in a kiln made of fire bricks. Different
fuels used for the firing yield numerous effects. Sawdust,
straw, hay twigs or leaves may be used as fuel. The sculpture
is 'painted' by the markings left by smoke and flame. Some
pieces are painted with watercolors before smoke firing. All
are sealed with a protective acrylic spray
afterward.
-Laurie
Sharkus 
Education:
-A.F.A Monroe
County Community College, Monroe MI
-B.F.A Eastern Michigan
University, Ypsilanti MI
-Studied Drawing & Art History,
Florence Italy
Memberships, Awards, Exhibits
& Art Shows:
-Member of The MI Guild of Artists
& Artisans
-Wyandotte Street Art Fair, Wyandotte
MI
Best of Show Award 2005
-Royal Oak Clay
& Glass 2005, Royal Oak MI
-Detroit Festival of
The Arts 2005, Detroit MI
-MI Guild Holiday Art Fair 2006,
Farmington Hills MI
First Place Award
Sculpture
-Exhibited 20 Sculptures in Solo Show 2006
Monroe County Community College, Monroe MI
-Exhibited at Krasl
Art on the Bluff 2006, St Joseph MI
-State Street Art Fair, Ann
Arbor MI
Exhibitor 2006, by invitation 2007 &
2008
-Exhibited at Black Swamp Arts Festival 2007, Bowling Green
OH
-Kalamazoo Fine Art Fair 2006 & 2007
Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
 Publications:
-'Following her
Dream', Monroe Evening News 2006
-'Clay Times' Magazine
March/April 2006
'The Gallery' One sculpture
published
-'500 Animals in Clay' Lark Books
2006
3 sculptures published
  
  
  
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