Welcome new member Debi Manduca
to the AOTG Gallery!
In 2002, Debi founded Mudipaws Pottery, combining wheel-thrown forms with hand sculpture and her lifelong interest in animals. Each piece Debi creates is a one-of-a-kind wheel-thrown and hand-sculpted ceramic. It begins at the wheel and is then altered and sculpted by hand, allowing the character and personality of her chosen animal or snowman to emerge. Her early work focused on dogs sculpted according to American Kennel Club breed standards, as well as individual commissioned portraits. For many years, she exhibited exclusively at AKC dog shows throughout the country, and national breed organizations commissioned her to create original trophy series depicting dogs in conformation, agility, and obedience. Her work has expanded beyond dogs to include wildlife such as giraffes, elephants, lions, rhinoceroses and pandas, along with a distinctive collection of sculptural snowmen. Debi formulates her own glazes, developing surfaces and colors specifically to complement her sculptural work. Her pieces bring together the precision of wheel throwing, the expressive possibilities of sculpture, and a close observation of the animals and characters that inspire her.