Marina Bosetti is an artist bound by no single medium. Her eye for pattern and color sees the world as a painter does — and as a child she explored many methods of expression, from canvas to cloth.

In high school, however, she discovered a medium that would prove to be a lifelong inspiration: clay. That discovery led her to opening Bosetti Art Tile and Pottery, a Triangle-based custom tile work business.

“Clay is the earth. It’s versatile, resilient, and magical, just like our world. It responds to every touch, intentional as well as accidental, like people to words,” said Bosetti. “You have to know when to push, when to pull, and when to wait. It’s a complicated relationship but once developed, ever so rewarding as a way of life.”

Through careful consultation, Bosetti works with homeowners to create living spaces that reflect her client’s artistic visions.

“I give customers a menu of ideas on how they can help me help them,” said Bosetti. “Colors, patterns, pictures of their home, Pinterest boards, samples of their countertops, cabinets, paint swatches, et cetera. When I have a clear idea of what they want, I start drawing.”

Through a technique called “cuerda seca,” Bosetti treats tile as a different kind of canvas, applying and manipulating color as well as glaze to create patterns, landscapes, and even images of flora and fauna — whatever imagery springs from her, or her customer’s, minds.

With the experience gained from a lifelong passion, Bosetti helps her customers transform kitchen and bath backsplashes, countertops, sinks, bathtubs and fireplaces into works of art.

“I approach clay in a very painter-ly way,” Bosetti said. “You can’t combine glazes the way you would mix paint. You can play. Every glaze has a base formula that you add colorants to. Every white glaze is a base glaze. I like to play a harmless scientist in my studio.”

Reporting via Ashton Capozzi 

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