I begin by pressing clumps of clay together on a piece of paper, in an unfolding process of mark-making. Embracing the poetic irregularities of the material, edges warp as the clay surfaces dry. Within the boundaries of the fired ceramic planes, I apply oil paint. Rhythmic brushstrokes become a language of layered perceptions—where memories of color convey physical and spiritual realities. Influences range from early writing systems on ceramic and stone tablets, the architecture of color in 13-14 century Sienese paintings, scientific findings on the nature of gravitational waves, to the landscapes of native wildflowers in the Central Valley. Painted outside during daylight hours in layered compressions of time, the forms recall curved fields and wall surfaces—blurring the distinction between architecture and the landscape. 

Marla Sweitzer (b. Sarasota, FL) lives and works in Fresno, CA.