DEBRA STEIDEL Works

I grew up in Virginia, just on the outskirts of Washington, D.C.  Back in the 1960’s it was a quiet and wonderful place to be, a woodland just outside my door. Nature, in all its wonder and beauty, has been and still remains a large influence in my work.  At the age of 11, my mother gave me my first set of oil paints. Creating art has been my focus ever since. My fascination with ceramics began in 1974, at the young age of 18, when I purchased a potter’s wheel. The plasticity of this medium with its endless possibilities have remained a constant inspiration for over 4 decades. ​

I am self-taught. Through diligence, a library and advice from seasoned potters, I learned my way with the wheel and how to glaze and fire ware. I began as a functional potter, throwing bowls, mugs and such. In the early 1990's I had a bit of an awakening with my work and began to sculpt sculptural sea forms. These forms have carried over into my current body of work in the lids that are cast in glass. 

​In 2004, I began to experiment with “crystalline” glazes.  This type of firing is very captivating and the search for the “BIG” crystal can be seductive. For some, the glaze becomes the only important aspect of the piece. My goal has always been to find balance and harmony with shape, lid and glaze; not letting each aspect take over the piece. I don’t consider myself a crystalline potter, but a ceramic artist that will constantly change, evolve and grow.