Sharon Schaffer

 

I first learned how to work clay in college. I earned a degree in fine arts from SUNY Potsdam in New York. After completing my education I set pottery aside for a number of years, but it eventually pulled me back in. Having decided to return to clay, I took a job in a factory where I honed my ability to turn a lump of mud into the exact shape I wanted it to be. Like most artists, I craved artistic freedom.
 

People often want to know where my inspiration comes from. The answer is, “all over the place.” Whether I am looking at a shelf full of inexpensive dishes in a discount store, or a one of a kind vase in a gallery, my imagination is always at work. Shapes will form in my mind and will not let go of me until I sit down with some clay and start to make them.


The Impressionists of the nineteenth century have greatly influenced me. My work is about fusing together texture, reflected light and function. I achieve the desired textures from the clay itself when I throw a piece on the wheel, or add in hand built elements. The combination of opalescent glazes and the shape of the pieces reflect the light around them.

After experimenting with many different glazes, I found several that give the depth of color and the reflection of light that satisfy me. My white glaze is not just white; it glows like a strand of antique pearls. The cobalt blue glaze doesn’t allow itself to be weighed down in shadows. It stands up and greets the light. Greens and browns and blues come together to give the impression of a clear stream running over a stony bed.

My work is always evolving and I look forward to sharing new pieces as they emerge from the studio.