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Gina Holt is a clay artist who works from her
home in Bothell, Washington. She maintains a studio in the Victorian
house she & her husband, Bill, designed & built on the Sammamish
River.
There is no doubt that creativity is in her genes. With a mom
who was an artist & a dad who was a dancer, Gina & her two sisters
all became artists. After studying illustration & print making
in college, she worked painting theater sets & designed store
displays. "It was only when I first put my hands into clay that
everything came together", Gina says. "I loved that I was able
to draw, carve & paint with this flexible medium. Working with
clay embodied all I had studied & more." She describes her process:
"I follow certain steps in creating a finished work.
I begin by rolling out a slab of raw clay, then draw into it.
Once the lines are roughed in, the true carving, smoothing,
& building begins. A frame for a mirror or a clock may be decorated
with embellishments inspired by a fine old architectural detail
or an ornate rail. Three-dimensional flowers or fruit may be
incorporated.
All of this is done while the clay is wet. After a piece is
completely dry, it is fired in the kiln. Glazing comes next,
followed by a glaze-fire in the kiln. Once cooled, the piece
is assembled, signed and numbered." "For many years I have been
enamored with `old things` such as antique furniture, jewelry,
Victorian houses & buildings from the 1800`s.
We live in such a fast- paced world where everything is expected
to be produced instantaneously. The dedication invested in fine
woodworking & elaborate stonework found on vintage buildings
fascinates me. Master craftsmen took real time & care creating
beautiful, long lasting ornamentation.
A carved window surround, an architectural detail, fancy, swirling
metal railings & gates are sources of inspiration. I find it
incredibly satisfying to digest what I see & to express my view
of it in terra cotta or white clay. As I blend tradition with
my own perspective into each piece, I am able to produce something
both beautiful & meaningful. This is important to me." "Victorians
often communicated their feelings using flowers. They compiled
little dictionaries for the meanings they ascribed to flowers,
fruits, leaves, branches & trees.
Every time I use a floral or fruit motif, I inscribe the Victorian
sentiment on the back of each object. For me this completes
and personalizes what I have made, and because of the romantic
nature of these particular pieces, they are often purchased
for special occasions, like weddings, anniversaries, and birthdays."
Gina has worked happily with clay since 1993, never tiring of
its endless possibilities. Custom work includes a fireplace
surround inspired by wisteria, a tiled floor with a Northwest
Heron theme, personalized clocks & mirrors. Everything she creates
is one of a kind, signed & numbered. |
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914
water street, port townsend, washington 98368 | telephone (360) 385-3630