Valerie Birkhoff

Artist Statement

In the beginning I was an oil painter and I created 3D beaded sculptures. When I initially started working with clay it took over my studio and all my attention. As time has gone by I’ve started to incorporate my past mediums into my clay work, creating mixed media clay pieces. Clay is fired at temperatures of around 2,000 degrees and it’s a challenge to blend it with other mediums, which is particularly interesting to me. I like the challenge of blending clay with beads, glazes, wire, collage and paint. By blending these mediums together perhaps I can help humans blend into their natural sides and bring harmony into their daily lives.