Description of the Tiles

I make my tiles with a porcelain/stoneware clay that I buy pre-mixed with water. This clay has a creamy color that gives a great base for the colors that I apply. I fire the tiles twice, with the final firing at 2200 degrees F so that the clay is vitreous or having a nature of glass.

I try to make my designs so that the tiles will be nominal size less 1/8". So for 6 inch tiles, I shoot for 5-7/8" tiles to make 1/8" space for grout. The actual sizes vary partly because the clay shrink is difficult to predict and partly because I cut them by hand with a pizza cutter. The tiles are about 5/16" thick.

I have formed depressions in the clay using a method of erosion that I have patented. The result is a clay surface that is similar to a shallow bass-relief carving where the original surface is higher  and the eroded areas are about 1/16" lower (thinner).

The primary benefit of the variation in the surface height of the clay is the ability to apply coloring to some areas while leaving other areas uncolored or a different color. After I apply coloring (natural minerals), I spray a coating of clear (usually gloss) glaze over the entire tile.

 A second benefit of the surface height variation is tactile nature of the finished tile. Where the surface of other two-dimensional images, such as watercolor or oil paintings might be soiled or damaged when touched by our hands, these tiles are unaffected by our touch. In fact, touching these tiles makes our connections to the images more tactile and real. When installed as floor tiles, the depressions give a slight texture for enhanced walking grip but the depressions are not deep enough to cause tripping.