Larry Halvorsen may create in black and white, but his hand built creations speak colorful volumes.

The Bellevue native, who has featured his artwork at the ArtsFair for nearly 20 years, constructs his pieces using a combination of hand building techniques, including coils, press, slump molds and slab building.

Halvorsen is a self-taught ceramic sculptor who has developed his unique black and white work from inspirations of ancient stone tools, ritual objects, shields and forms of nature.

Each of his pieces featured at the ArtsFair this year is designed using the ancient technique of sgraffito. He coats each piece with black slip (colored clay) and carves back through the slip, exposing the natural clay beneath.

His work includes both sculptural and functional pieces, including mugs, totems and footed containers.

One of his largest installation pieces is mounted on the wall in the lobby of the Westin Bellevue, next to the Bellevue Arts Musuem.

“It’s pretty distinctive looking,” Halvorsen said of his artwork. “Some people call it primitive; others contemporary – so I don’t know where to put it.”

The ArtsFair has given him the opportunity to develop contacts with many collectors, galleries and designers.

This year, his featured work ranges from $38 for black and white mugs to $1500 for large sculptures.

His 14-year-old son, Liam, also has some of his own distinctive creations on display – grumpy old men heads, which have done pretty well in previous years, his father added.

For information, visit www.halvorsenclay.com.