Judie Smothers with “Brother Bob”
Lynne Kelsey
Our Happy Potters are usually busy creating in the studio, but many seek out new venues to extend their skills and creativity. This was the case recently for several of our members.
The Visual Arts Society of Texas (VAST) held their juried 16th Annual 175 Mile Art Exhibit at the Gough Gallery, Patterson/Appleton Center in Denton, from Jan. 16 through Feb. 25. Judith Smothers, resident and member of the Happy Potters and Paint & Palette Clubs, was awarded first place with her sculpture “Brother Bob.” In her backstory, she wrote of the months she cared for her brother while he recovered from a bone marrow transplant. Daily she studied his face and bald head. After a successful recovery and his return to Phoenix, she began a new sculpture and, interestingly, it looked just like her bald-headed bro, except for the decorative robe!
Dawn Michelen, Fawn White, and Rick DuBose traveled an hour south to the town of Cleburne to take a workshop with sculptor Jeff Gottfried. Gottfried is a noted artist whose representational western bronzes are displayed in several museums. This workshop focused on creating an anatomically correct horse head, and our potters found their worktables in a most appropriate place—in the barn, opposite their real-life models. Working with paperclay, a clay that incorporates cellulose fiber that improves stability and results in a more lightweight final product, our members used measuring calipers on anatomy charts to assure their proportions were accurate. If the horses were uncooperative, Gottfried supplied a perfect solution—the artists had treats at hand, which assured attention by the equine models who munched contentedly and presented their “good sides.” After two days in Cleburne, Gottfried joined our trio here at the Ranch to wrap up their projects. The results were extraordinary! The sculptures will be glazed and fired here soon and will be on display in the studio showcase.
In addition, a group of Happy Potters headed to Dallas in early March for a presentation by potter Sharon Hoppe at Trinity Ceramics, our supplier. Hoppe demonstrated the use of her drape molds, which allow potters to hand build pieces with consistent results, as well as her beautifully designed rolling pins, which add texture to clay slabs. Members returned with their shopping bags full of new tools and their wallets a bit lighter, but very happy indeed!
The Potters are thrilled to be back in the studio, which has been reorganized and has gained some additional storage and work surfaces after the CATC closure and renovation. As members resume their creative endeavors, we invite you to come by, check out the display case, and come into the studio if you’re curious about pottery. You’re sure to find folks eager to share their knowledge!