Glassy porcelain, leathery smooth wood, and rough rusted metal - Cara O'Brien brings together the existing characteristics of found objects with the endless malleability of porcelain clay. Attracted to the textures, oxidized colors, and natural lines of wood and metal, she contrasts man-made and naturally occurring elements to showcase the intrinsic beauty of her chosen materials.Inspired by microscopic designs in nature, O'Brien creates life-like elements in clay. She emphasizes texture and shape over color, bringing out the essential qualities of her materials and transforming them into pieces bursting with life. Mushroom and lichen-shaped forms, barnacles and branch-like elements are arranged in linear or circular shapes to suggest something growing on a tree, the bottom of a lake, or on the side of a rock. Contrasting rough and smooth areas with flat and raised, she gives the materials a chance to “speak” to her as she works, allowing each to determine which works best with a particular piece of wood or porcelain component.Cara O’Brien graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, MI with a concentration in sculpture, and currently works from her home and studio in Whitehall, MI.