Joan Cihak
An accomplished oil painter specializing in the botanical and natural world, Joan first developed an interest in clay when she visited Seattle and took classes at Pratt Fine Arts Center. After moving to Seattle from Phoenix, AZ in 2011, she connected with Seward Park Clay Studio where she continued to contribute as a student, artist, teacher and former member of the Board of Directors.
“My work is inspired by the beauty and shapes of the flowers of the Pacific Northwest, while simultaneously influenced by the colors and shapes of the Southwest desert, with a bit of Mexican folk art influence.” Joan’s ‘botanical cake toppers’ are a result of a happy accident. When a colleague mistook a photo of one of Joan’s large botanical table-top pieces for a smaller cake decoration, an idea was born. Her cherubs, whose name is based on a word meaning “the blessing,” eventually became part of her cale and cupcake topper repertoire.
More work available in the gallery.
Photos Cambria Cox, The Field Trip Society
Cake Topper 23, 2024
Terracotta with underglaze and clear glaze and kanthal wire
Approximately 3 ½” diameter
$100
Cake Topper 23, 2024
Terracotta with underglaze and clear glaze and kanthal wire
Approximately 3 ½” diameter
$100
Cupcake Topper 13, 2024
Terracotta with underglaze and clear glaze
Approximately 1 ½” diameter
$30
Cake Topper 24, 2024
Terracotta with underglaze and clear glaze with kanthal wire
Approximately 3” diameter
$100
Cake Topper 22, 2024
Terracotta with underglaze and clear glaze;added kanthal wire
Approximately 4” diameter
$100
Cake Topper 24, 2024
Terracotta with underglaze and clear glaze with kanthal wire
Approximately 3” diameter
$100
Cup Cake Topper 8, 2024
Terracotta with underglaze and clear glaze
Approximately 2” diameter
$30
Cake Topper 26, 2024
Terracotta with underglaze and clear glaze and kanthal wire
Approximately 4” diameter
$100
Cupcake Topper 9, 2024
Terracotta with underglaze and clear glaze
Approximately 2” diameter
$30
Cake Topper 40, 2024
Terracotta with clear glaze and gold luster over glaze
Approximately 2” diameter
$50
Cherub 36, 2024
Gold luster cherub on oyster shell with purple iris
Cast white low fire slip, base terracotta, underglaze and clear glaze, gold luster over glaze
Approximately 2 ½” x 4”
$200
Cherub 32, 2024
Turquoise cherub holding open book on green base
Cast white low fire slip, base terracotta, underglaze and clear glaze
Approximately 2 ½” x 2 ½”
$150
Cherub 37, 2024
Coral cherub with gold crown, basket, two cats, and ball of yarn
Cast white low fire slip, base terracotta, underglaze and clear glaze
Coral cherub with gold crown, basket, two cats, and ball of yarn
Cast white low fire slip, base terracotta, underglaze and clear glaze
Approximately 2” x 3”
$200
$200
Cherub 35, 2024
Cherub with hat surrounded by crows
Cast white low fire slip, base terracotta, underglaze and clear glaze
Approximately 3” x 2”
$175
Left to right:
Cherub 38, 2024
Pink winged cherub with flowers on green base
Approximately 2 ½” x 3 ½”
$150
Cherub 29, 2024
Orange cherub on yellow rose holding other blossoms
Approximately 3” x 2”
$125
Cherub 30, 2024
Cherub on blue base with bouquet flowers
Approximately 3” x 2”
$125
Cherubs cast white low fire slip, base terracotta with underglaze and clear glaze, and some with kanthal wire