This piece was inspired by my childhood dog's wild abandon joy in a pile of leaves. As a kid, I could get my dog Chris to sit as I raked a pile of leaves over her head. At the “OK” command she would burst out and wiggle in them until we started over again. I still smile when remembering.

The removable dog starts as a series of clay cones and cylinders of stoneware clay. As they are assembled, the pose emerges. The surface is smoothed, then textured. The pile of leaves is a carved stoneware pillow. It is painted with studio-made slips. After the first firing, glaze is applied and then selectively wiped away to create a worn look.

 Approximately 11”H,17”D,13”W