Artist and Founder of Clay Decor, LLC

The driving force behind Clay Decor, LLC is artist A. M. Foulke.  A. M. Foulke's love of interior design and passion for art culminated into the Clay Decor, LLC company.  Clay Decor strives to bring refined energy and distinction to everyday household decor through original hand-crafted ceramic art.  Foulke is responsible for every tile design, and ensuring the superior quality of the carving, pressing, and refining of the artwork. As an artist, Foulke endeavors to make each piece a unique, custom work of art to be lived with and enjoyed for a lifetime.  

Back in the Studio

Photographs by Jen Capone

Tiles - Clay Decor's relief tiles are created in a tradition dating from 16th century Germany.  German potters would carve wooden plaques for use as tile molds in household tile-ovens.  These wood molds created a shallow relief design that could be replicated thousands of times before the mold was worn and eventually destroyed.  Clay Decor remains true to this medieval manner of tile-making, and executes every step of the process by hand (with the exception of using an electric kiln).  

Each stoneware tile is created from a mold.  The design starts out as a sketch, which is then transferred to a solid block of wood.  The design is hand-carved into the wood, and a slab of wet clay carefully pressed into the mold.   Each tile is separately worked to refine the edges and design relief.  The tiles are pressed and dried slowly to prevent warping, then fired in the kiln (to over 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit), glazed (where the finish color is applied), and fired a final time.  

Lavatory Sinks - The sink begins life as a 15-pound ball of clay, worked into a large bowl on the pottery wheel.  When the bowl is 50% dry, a whole is cut for the drain, and bottom finished to fit a countertop.  The clay is completely dried, fired in the kiln, glazed, and fired a final time.   Our new rectangular sinks are created by draping and sculpting sheets of wet clay around a plaster form designed and constructed in the studio.

Decor Elements -Elements of decor include individually created sculptures with shapes and finishes unique to each piece--no two are alike.  Works are made with a combination of techniques depending upon the piece.  The artist begins with a lump of clay, and transforms it into sculpture on the pottery wheel.  Some sculptures are modified with hand-building techniques, using clay coils or slabs.  Other sculptures come to life through carving or using a clay paddle.  These are non-utilitarian works of art meant for display.