Elaine White

"I’ve been making functional wheel-thrown pottery for about 20 years. I use stoneware clay and high-fire my pieces in an electric kiln so the pieces are dishwasher-safe. I’ve taken many classes at the Community Arts Center in Wallingford over the years, and am currently in the Advanced Potters Workshop. I recently won an honorable mention in their Members’ Show and also have some of my pieces in a gallery in Kennett Square. I’ve been a member of the Hometown Collective for 8 years.

I enjoy making wheel-thrown pots because I like the feel of the soft clay as it moves through my hands, and the symmetry of the forms that result. I strive for simple and classical shapes. My favorite form is the bowl and I enjoy making variations of the shape and size.

One of my recent interests is using clay stamps to press designs into my forms, and in finding just the right glazes that will highlight those impressions. I’ve also been utilizing unglazed lines on some of my bowls to create sharp geometric designs on the otherwise smooth surfaces. Most recently, I find myself intrigued by the form of the pitcher, and have been devoting more time to that silhouette.

I consider that my most successful pieces are those that I have an irresistible urge to touch as I walk by. I hope you find that irresistible urge, too."