Sheri: the mother hen behind Blue Hen Craft
I live and play in Western North Carolina, at an elevation of almost 3,000 feet above sea level, surrounded by five national parks, including the Great Smoky Mountains and the Pisgah Ranger District.
My outdoor studio is surrounded by pastoral fields and mountain ranges, with a 75-year-old apple tree dropping its fruit for me to bake fresh apple pies and crumbles in my handcrafted casserole dishes -- and where a giant groundhog, nicknamed "Mama Chonk," regularly waddles over with her new babies to feast on any apples that I miss in my daily pickups. The occasional curious black bear wanders by, and if she veers to close, my giant black auto-open umbrella teaches her to move along elsewhere.
Influenced by my natural surroundings, I take inspiration from hiking, trail riding on my horse, Dalí, paddleboarding, or enjoying my creatures right here at home. A potter, a painter, and an all-around creative person, I turn my observations into art, and I hope my creations make my customers happier.
More than three decades ago, I signed up for a pottery course at the local community center. My ceramic teacher was blind, and offered her students extra-special insight about the crafting of clay--its feel, its texture and form--and she taught us how to respect the clay and its tendency to form into shape based on the first few moments of throwing on a wheel. "Clay has a memory," she told us. And from the first, horrible, ashtray-like vessel I created, I was smitten. Fast-forward five years and I was buying my own kiln and making pots for fun. And today, it's all about making pottery for pleasure and for my primary income.
I'm drawn to simple shapes (often accentuated with creature features), bold colors on natural clay bodies, and making useful, productive objects that serve a purpose rather than just sitting there looking good. I was a "chicken mom" to a flock of backyard hens for about five years, and these curious little creatures have influenced much of my work.
All of my clays come from nearby Kentucky and range from earthen reds to porcelain-based stoneware. My glazes are lead-free, cadmium-free, and fired at temperatures that support use in the oven, microwave, and dishwasher (though I always recommend to my customers that for optimum glaze life, hand-washing is recommended). If something isn't practical, to me, I don't make it or use it! If you're going to have a bird on your kitchen countertop, that bird should offer a use. My favorite clay is a speckled stoneware clay that shows off my colorful glazes with its pronounced yet delicate specks, and yet retains a very earthen, natural feel when finished with a neutral color wash (which is how I finish the exterior of most of my clay pieces).
All of my vessels are hand-crafted by me from start to finish. From the initial ball of clay to throwing it on the wheel (and/or hand-building it) to trimming, imprinting, adding feature elements, and firing, glazing, and shipping, it's all from my hands.
I'm still humbled when anyone buys something that I've crafted with my own hands. It's the ultimate compliment. I take great pride in transforming a ball of clay into a delightful, USEable shape that accentuates peoples' homes and lives.
It took years to develop my brand. I dabbled in various clay bodies, forms, and color palettes. Only a few years ago did I find what represents me the best: speckled stoneware clays in whimsical yet useful shapes and forms, and COLOR. I particularly enjoy the contrast between the natural clay body and the colorful glaze finish, and love how they complement each other. Starting out making pottery for friends and family has become a full-time career in the last several years, and I couldn't be happier than when I'm digging in clay every day.
