Andrea Pichaida

As both an artist and woman, I have been influenced by my native Chile and my new home, Santa Fe, with all its colors, light, landscapes and an inclusive community which inspires my work constantly. My creative journey has always gone hand in hand with my passion for teaching, first as a professor for 17 years at the Catholic University in Chile as well as my private studio and for many years at Santa Fe Clay.

Through my art I attempt to convey feelings of love, joy, warmth, happiness and gracefulness.  By allowing myself to work sculptural abstract forms inspired by nature, as well as figurative shapes and also bas relief, I aim for a balance of my different interests and expressions. Clay, all type of clay with all its wonderful properties, gives me the ability to play freely to achieve shapes in which an ongoing dialog between form, color, surface and texture takes place and where the craft plays a very big role. I strive for clean shapes, lines and great technique.

My creative process starts with a vague idea scribbled on paper. Once I get my hands-on clay, a more intuitive journey begins that draws me into a wonderful personal creative moment.