Tsuchi: Japanese Earth Art & Mindful Clay Sculpture 

Regina Doi is an accomplished fine artist, sculptor, and educator with over 25 years of professional experience across fine arts instruction, K-12 STEAM education, and technical design. Holding a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Fine Arts from SUNY Albany and credentialed as a certified Oncology Data Specialist (ODS-C), Regina brings a unique blend of scientific inquiry, technical precision, and creative expression to her teaching and studio practice. She is the founder and president of the non-profit organization Art Does It, through which she has curated exhibitions, led hands-on workshops, and promoted accessible arts education across New York and Alabama. As an active instructor across the Finger Lakes region—including the Arts Center of Yates County and Penn Yan Elementary—her extensive work spans metal casting, paperclay sculpting, Sumi-e ink brushwork, and Shasei life sketching.

At the heart of Regina’s creative practice is Tsuchi (土)—the Japanese aesthetic concept of "earth," "soil," and the unrefined soul of raw materials. Her artist statement centers on honoring tsuchi-aji, the inherent natural character and tactile honesty of clay in its primal state. Rather than pursuing rigid symmetry or hiding materials beneath artificial glazes, her sculptural work celebrates Wabi-Sabi (侘寂)—the profound beauty found in impermanence, natural transience, and organic imperfection. By integrating non-fired air-dry paperclay, plaster, and found natural elements like weathered twigs, bark, and seed pods, her artwork records the passage of time and the quiet, geometric balance of our living natural world.

Regina’s teaching philosophy is rooted in the conviction that making art is a process-driven vehicle for mental well-being, tactile grounding, and creative self-expression. In her classes for The Dove Block Project, she reframes technical construction into intuitive, hands-on problem solving. Students construct internal armatures from found twigs and binding wire, discovering 3D spatial balance, weight distribution, and structural integrity through organic form. By removing the fear of "making mistakes" and embracing the natural cracks, warps, and textures of air-dry paperclay, participants cultivate a deeply mindful connection to their materials. Through delicate Sumi-e ink washes, watercolors, and natural earth pigments, Regina guides her learners to honor their personal creative voice, cultivate relaxation, and discover the restorative power of earth art.