teapots, pitchers and more— resulting in rich, warm, red and yellow surfaces.“ As soon as my hands touch the clay I am thinking of the effects of the flame and salt on each piece. I add incised decorative lines to pieces to catch the ash as it enters the kiln and to encourage natural ash glaze runs. I hope my pots speak for themselves. Less is more.”
WHEN THE CLAY CALLS Mercersburg potter Janine Davis also creates functional pieces, approaching each project with the thought that what comes out of it will be usable. She involves color, form, intended use and texture into each piece— allowing the size of her signature pieces, trays and platters, to dictate what she will draw or imprint on each. In addition to selling and showing her work, Janine runs a summer art camp teaching children age 6 to 15 sculpting, pottery and other crafts.“ From the first week the kids love getting dirty in the clay creating things,” she says.
Janine’ s first brush with clay came in high school when her art teacher urged her to try out a new wheel. It was love at first spin. At the Corcoran School of Art her love of clay drew her to studying sculpting. Janine put it aside to raise her family, until several years ago she was drawn back to art enrolling in classes at Hagerstown Community College. She interned under potter Ben Culbertson.“ I have seen ebbs and tides in the craft market over the years. Older collectors are now purging, younger collectors are being educated to carry on. Pottery has always been a specialized market that will continue drawing in those who see the beauty in a handmade work of art.” HCC was a gateway to pottery for Jackie Shaw, too. She enrolled in classes in 2003, after retiring from 35 years of teaching creative and decorative arts, and now draws inspiration“ from my travels around the world. I’ m always amazed by what I discover.” She credits her creativity to“ what spurned me on as a child when I got boxes of Crayola Crayons— a sense of self-expression.”
INSPIRATION FROM ART AND ASH A portion of Lisa Kovatch’ s childhood was spent in Africa:“ I embraced African
L ehmans Mil Home Décor, Window Treatments,
Furniture, Fashion and More!
L for your home and you!
Brighten Up Your Style!
CHAMILIA Your Life. Your Style.
Make her
Sparkle!
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Hagerstown: The Best of Life in Washington County & Beyond March / April 2013 33