My work is the constant search to interpret the ideas and feelings within myself and how I am placed in the world. As the world around me changes, the way I grow changes, therefore, I create simultaneously with the now and the past. I combine trees and human figures as a way of representing my growth process in the form of narrative paintings on ceramic sculpture. Trees grow for long periods, always changing and growing in new directions, making their journey different than any other tree. Much like a tree, my growth branches out in several directions, that branch off into several other directions as I go on from day-to-day. Each layer tells the story and process of their life. The inclusion of the nude female figure is shown prominently throughout my work, both in and out of ceramics, focusing on the aspects of naturality. I find it to be significant to my process that I show the body in full view and in the most vulnerable state a person can be. This leaves no room to hide and completely captures the essence of a person. The figures are of no one specific, as I hope that the viewers will be able to put themselves in place of these figures during their interaction with each piece.
Using clay as my material of choice, in combination with my painting background, I work on large sculptural vases that take the form of my canvas. I choose to use clay to build these structures because of its natural elements. Using the raw materials of the earth adds to the natural aspects of my work. I like the idea of creating my own canvas in the physical making of it, and then applying washes in a painterly manner through varying lines and wash consistencies. I chose to use wash because of its likeness to painting with India ink in my regular paintings. When building my structures, I base the form on the shapes I see in the female figure, but when I paint on the surfaces, the narratives I chose to pursue in my work happen in the moment. Doing so allows me to document and work through the challenges and achievements that come along as I grow.
The narratives I am telling consist of my life as a college student, as I have had a challenging time accepting change and time passing. Now, I use my artwork as a way of working through those situations by marking moments in time, both positively and negatively, as they influence my day-to-day emotions. My narratives express my emotions in reaction to my relationships with the people around me. Lately, the way I feel and think has been heavily influenced by the ongoing feelings of a former romantic relationship, therefore determining the subjects of my work. Although my work consists of primarily female figures because I am a female, I am in the process of incorporating the male figure into my narratives. As my work relates directly to myself as a female, I feel that it is important that the majority of my work relates to the female figure. By including the male figure, this opens up my narratives when trying to understand my healing process in relation to myself.
Haylie Bowlby
BFA Undergraduate 2022
Bowling Green State University