Since birth, it seems to everything in my life was pointing towards my becoming an artist. My mom jokes that the only way she could keep me quiet and happy as a toddler was to hand me some crayons and paper. Growing up I remember many a happy hour spent with everything from crayons, markers, oil paints, fabric, embroidery floss and clay. Secretly raiding my Mom’s embroidery floss collection for whatever current mad art project I was working on is another favorite memory (she finally gave up and gave me her collection of wonderful colors.)

Instead of following the conventional path directly from high school to art school, I chose to pursue a liberal arts degree at Swarthmore College. This decision proved to be invaluable, as the diverse courses in history, sociology, philosophy, engineering, psychology, and the life sciences profoundly influenced my artistic outlook and creativity.

My technical skills and artistic vision were further refined during my graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where I earned my MFA. There, I expanded my artistic repertoire, gaining expertise in textiles, photography, glassblowing, woodworking, and painting, which complemented my primary focus on ceramics.

Since graduate school I have been a bit of a Magpie artist, following the muse and limitations of where I was in life. I’ve had a horse photography business, worked on textiles- especially animal portrait quilts, even tried my hand at manufacturing riding jods. Now that I have the time and space again I have sunk my fingers back into my true artistic love of ceramics.

My current artistic focus has been deeply influenced by the ancient ceramics technique known as Sgraffito, or as I prefer to call it “Scraffitto,” which dates back to at least the Middle Ages. Originating from the Italian word meaning "to scratch," this method has a storied history, with its intricate and labor-intensive creations becoming treasured possessions of Italian Princes, Russian Czars, Byzantine Emperors, and other esteemed figures.

Scraffitto involves applying multiple layers of colored underglaze to leather-hard clay. Once the underglaze dries to the perfect consistency, I carefully carve the design into the surface, revealing the clay beneath in a meticulous and deliberate process. Following a bisque firing, a clear glaze is applied to enhance and protect the design. These pieces are fired to cone 6, reaching temperatures of 2200°F, which classifies them as mid/high fire ceramics. While they are durable enough for microwave and dishwasher use, I recommend handwashing to preserve their beauty and integrity over time.

alice@alicemunger.com