My passion for ceramics began with whimsical pots created to hold my expanding collection of cacti and succulents. My backyard is filled with plants grown from cuttings and seeds . . . and of course my pottery.

Having taught art history for many years, I create shapes, designs and textures inspired by my favorite Modern Art movements: Minimalism, Abstract Expressionism, De Stijl, Pop, and Op. The vibrant hues in my garden influence the my color palette.  

My most recent work involves coloring the clay itself instead of using colored glazes. Called Marbled Clay, Nerikomi (Japanese), or Agate-ware (English)--all refer to pottery decorated with a combination of contrasting colors. The process starts by hand-coloring porcelain clay then stacking or wedging the various colors.  Slicing through the cross section reveals slabs imbedded with three dimensional patterns and images.  Vessels and jewelry are then shaped by hand and allowed to dry very slowly to prevent cracks.  The finished work exposes a composition of both careful planning and accidental surprises.   Examples can be seen in the "For the Home" section.

When I'm not in the ceramics studio, I'm teaching classes in modern and contemporary art at several Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes (OLLI) or volunteering as a Docent at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA).

A Scottsdale, AZ resident since 1988, I earned a BA in English and an MA in Humanities from Florida State University, and a Doctor of Education degree from Nova Southeastern University in Florida.

                                                                                                                              Deborah Robin

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