Guan-type Jar With Lion’s Head Handle

I found this Guan-type jar with lion’s head handles at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. It dates back to the Yuan dynasty (mid-14th century). Porcelain is one of China's most illustrious exports. In the mid-14th century, Persia introduced cobalt blue to China and soon blue and white porcelain from Jingdezhen became quite valued around the world.

My latest series involves my obsession with blue and white Chinoiserie porcelain. Studying the shapes and forms as I have been painting them has been a very peaceful and serene experience. I have blue and white ginger jars all around my house. I use them to hold brushes in my studio, flour and sugar in my kitchen…

October 2019 I was awarded a month-long artist residency at Chateau Orquevaux, in France. I printed out a selection of my blue and white porcelain photographs and brought them with me. I gave myself a month to explore painting outside of my comfort zone of the traditional Boston School training I received. During my time there, I painted large expressive paintings. In between the high energy and excitement of those broad brush-stroked pieces, I would paint a Chinese pot to give me a sense of order and peace… and to be honest, maybe a sense of control. I loved immersing myself into the painting and exploring the color variations and intricate detail of the different designs and subject matter. I decided to experiment with adding touches of gold leaf as a sign of respect to the original ceramicists. This blue and white watercolor series was created subconsciously, organically and accidentally out of something that gave me a sense of love, joy and peace.