How do artists make art?
The answer is as unique as the art and artist. And on the Washington County Open Studios
tour October 17th and 18th, you get a peek behind the
scenes into the art making process. Every artist is opening up their studio to
you, showing you their materials, inspirations and demonstrating what they do
and how they create art.
Here’s a quick peek into one of our 41 artists on this
year’s tour.
Susan, when you begin your work, what inspires you
and/or gets you going?
“I love the feel of porcelain clay in my hands. When I put my hands around a ball on the
wheel, I close my eyes and relax. The
more I center myself, the easier it is to center the clay. I don’t always plan what I’m going to make
and, actually, the less I plan whether it’s a bowl, cup or vase, the better the
piece turns out.
I walk everyday around a lake and through the
woods. This always inspiring and my work
reflects my love of buds, blossoms and fallen leaves in the handles on my mugs,
stamps on my vases and vines on my masks.”
How did you find your way to art, Susan, in spite of
any obstacles in your path?
“I’ve taken many art classes along the way from
college level to artist’s studios, to community education, so I’ve had lots of
teachers who have inspired me. I think
everyone needs encouragement along their path in life, especially in the arts.
After failing many times at throwing clay, one
special teacher noticed that I was trying to throw right handed and I was
really left handed. Once she turned the
wheel the right way, it all just felt right.
I use both hands when I throw now and, thanks to this teacher, it works
really well for me.
But some of the obstacles just made me stronger and
more determined to find my own artistic voice.
One teacher refused to let me make masks in a ‘fine
art’ class, it just made me more determined to do the mask making I now love to
do.
I gave up on clay many years ago because I didn’t
have a kiln or kiln access to fire my pieces.
But one generous man came to my studio, saw my old clay sculptures and
gave me his kiln. He included his wheel against my louds protests. And thanks
to him, I now have the pleasure of throwing with porcelain!”
Susan, do you use any weird, different material or
technique?
“I love mixing media. Over the years, I’ve worked in watercolor,
acrylic, oils, pastel, copper sheeting, window screening, beads, fabric and
now, porcelain. I always think I’m done
with a media and have moved on only to have it creep back into my work.
Right now, I use leaves in my clay and add wire and
window screening to my masks.”
When people come to your studio, Susan, what part of
your process will you share?
“This year, I’ll be doing sgraffito on
porcelain. It’s a wonderful technique
that lets me play with color and lines and texture all in one piece!”
Susan can you describe what is unique and inspiring
about your studio set up?
“I loving call my current studios, “Thing 1 and
Thing 2”. I’ve worked in many spaces in and around my home over the last 20
years. My first studio was in a corner
of the master bedroom on a tall drafting table where I could paint out of reach
of my toddler and preschooler.
Since then, my art and art space has changed with my
life and my media. My current work, in porcelain clay, requires several
different kinds of spaces depending on whether I’m throwing, hand-building or
sculpting.
Thing 1 is my garage where I throw. Throwing is messy and out there, I don’t
worry about clay drips and splashes. I
get the water, my clay, turn up the music and throw away while my sweet, yellow
lab, Jilly snores on her doggy bed.
Thing 2 is inside my home where I hand-build and
sculpt. Working on masks, figures or
jars inside helps keep the clay evenly moist and temperature controlled, so
there’s less cracking. I do glazing and
under glazing inside, too.
My kilns are outside in the garage. I have an electric kiln for bisque and glaze
firing and a propane kiln for horsehair raku.
But no matter whether I’m working in Thing 1 or Thing 2, Jilly is there curled up on her bed keeping me company.”
See Susan making art and get inspired during the 2015 Washington
County Open Studios tour October 17 and 18 from 11am to 5pm. Get a FREE tour map and information online at
www.washcoart.org
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