Reinventing the Wheel: Spotlight on Ceramicists
A craft that’s more than 20,000 years old, ceramics is a versatile medium whose form, function, and purpose vary vastly. A handful of local artists are pushing boundaries and breathing new life into the age-old art. Here are four ceramicists whose handmade wares you’re sure to get fired up about.
Marianne Waterstradt
Photos by Taylor Gillespie © and wholly owned by Style Media Group—please don’t steal our copyrighted photos. For more information about our editorial photos, please click here to contact us <<LINK TO https://www.stylemg.com/pages/contact-us
Sandy Hilton
Sandy Hilton is primarily a functional potter, creating pots, bowls, and other useful goods that are equally beautiful as they are bright. Now retired, the former community and cultural services manager for the City of Folsom teaches at the Folsom Art Center, where she shares her passion for pottery with a myriad of students.
Sandy Hilton; Photos by Taylor Gillespie © and wholly owned by Style Media Group
Why do you love ceramics?
I’ve always been intrigued with the feel of the earth between my fingers. There are so many parts to creating a ceramic artwork, from forming the shape to firing the clay and finally glazing the work and firing it again. Opening a freshly fired glaze load is always exciting; [you never know] if the kiln gods [will be] good to [you]!
I’ve always been intrigued with the feel of the earth between my fingers. There are so many parts to creating a ceramic artwork, from forming the shape to firing the clay and finally glazing the work and firing it again. Opening a freshly fired glaze load is always exciting; [you never know] if the kiln gods [will be] good to [you]!
Sandy Hilton
How do you avoid artists’ block?
I think all artists get a degree of block from time to time, but I always seem to bounce out of it when I see the work of other artists or the enthusiasm of new students.
I think all artists get a degree of block from time to time, but I always seem to bounce out of it when I see the work of other artists or the enthusiasm of new students.
Sandy Hilton
What inspires you?
Much of my inspiration comes from the natural world—spending time traveling and seeing different cultures and landscapes.
Much of my inspiration comes from the natural world—spending time traveling and seeing different cultures and landscapes.
Marianne Waterstradt
Marianne Waterstradt specializes in kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending the areas of breakage with lacquer that’s dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum. According to the artist, “Creating [these] pieces help remind us that while we experience events that make us feel broken; once mended, we’re more beautiful than we were before.”
Marianne Waterstradt; Photos by Taylor Gillespie © and wholly owned by Style Media Group
Why do you love ceramics?
It’s not the ceramic itself that I love; rather, it’s the joy and healing that comes from transforming something that was once broken and useless into something more beautiful and stronger than it originally was.
Marianne Waterstradt; Photos by Taylor Gillespie © and wholly owned by Style Media Group
How do you avoid artists’ block?
When I find myself “stuck” on how to proceed with a piece, my first step is to lay down and begin meditating. While my mind is clear, I try to imagine the history of the piece. From this open space, I can usually envision ways in which to mend it so that each imperfection is highlighted and made beautiful.
What inspires you?
I’ve received broken pieces from around the world, and the stories that accompany them are always deeply intriguing. One piece came from a tribe deep in the jungles of New Zealand; another one from Paris; and another from Africa. Each piece I work on has a life that has been temporarily dimmed by its breaking. My inspiration comes in seeking to reignite the beauty of the original pieces so they continue to lend joy to future generations.
Brian Hayes & Sarah Murray
Brian Hayes and Sarah Murray aren’t only a couple; they create functional pottery together, too. From vases, bowls, and teapots, to platters, mugs, and more (Sarah also makes handmade stoneware and raku buttons; available at the Placerville Art Gallery), their hand-glazed, wonderfully whimsical clay creations are both rustic and elegant.
Brian Hayes & Sarah Murray; Photos by Taylor Gillespie © and wholly owned by Style Media Group
Why do you love ceramics?
Sarah: For me, it really comes down to the medium’s natural substance and the endless possibilities you can create with it, the very natural ways it can be fired, and how it’s forever changed after doing so. I also love how it can become your favorite bowl or mug—a cherished, useful, tactile, and aesthetic part of one’s everyday life.
Brian: You get to play in mud and get dirty, work with fire, and create things that are useful for people to enjoy.
Brian Hayes & Sarah Murray Ceramics
How do you avoid artists’ block?
Sarah: I do something else—explore in nature or play with clay and see what happens.
Brian: I go trout fishing or work in the garden.
Brian: I go trout fishing or work in the garden.
Brian Hayes & Sarah Murray Ceramics
What inspires you?
Sarah: The natural world; I find inspiration in the patterns, textures, and designs all around us.
Brian: Time spent in the mountains.
Brian: Time spent in the mountains.
Dita Lewis-Panter
Full-time potter Dita Lewis-Panter creates “artistically functional” pieces, like chopstick bowls, bottles, and lidded jars. According to the artist—who was introduced to, and fell in love with, the medium back in high school—“The spiritual aspect of creating something from a lump of clay is profoundly calming.” Currently, her work can be found at the Sacramento Fine Arts Center and Art League of Lincoln.
Dita Lewis-Panter; Photos by Taylor Gillespie © and wholly owned by Style Media Group
Why do you love ceramics?
There’s just something about getting my hands in the clay. The feel of it spinning through my fingers can be quite meditative. It keeps me present and centered.
Dita Lewis-Panter Ceramics
How do you avoid artists’ block?
Watching artist demos on social media usually inspire me to get back at it. Also, seeing finished pieces at an art walk or in a gallery. Sometimes, just looking at nature and thinking about a texture that would look good on a pot.
Dita Lewis-Panter Ceramics
What inspires you?
Being out in nature. Whether it’s textures on tree bark, grasses, or leaves, they all inspire designs. When it comes to glazing, the ocean, stormy skies, or rocky bluffs all influence my work. Lately, vibrant lights (like those seen at concerts) have caused me to experiment with achieving richer saturations.
by Nelly Kislyanka
Artist photos and top two artwork photo for Marianne Waterstradt by Taylor Gillespie. Dita Lewis-Panter photo by Taylor Gillespie ©stylemediagroup. Other photos courtesy of each artist.
Photos by Taylor Gillespie © and wholly owned by Style Media Group—please don’t steal our copyrighted photos. For more information about our editorial photos, please click here to contact us <<LINK TO https://www.stylemg.com/pages/contact-us
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