Artist Spotlight - Celia Talbott
Artist Profile: Celia Talbott Transforms Nature Into ClayA piece of birchbark, a maple leaf, the head of a sunflower, an unusual twig. In Celia Talbott’s capable hands, such items from the world around us are transformed into both decorative and useful objects of clay. Celia relishes organic forms, and her work expresses both her affinity with nature and her skill as a potter. Her love of clay goes back to her childhood on a farm in Gorham. When her parents gave her modeling clay she fashioned it into horses and cats (she loves cats, too, but that’s another story!). Celia attended the University of Southern Maine, where she received a BA in Voc. Tech. Having always had an interest in art, she studied it as a non traditional student at USM while working full time in the admissions office. She recalls in particular an assignment to create an organic form, and her first cabbage dish would become the basis for much of her later work. While employed by the University as a secretary and later in Admissions Counseling, she realized that her career would not be driven by financial reward, but by what gave her pleasure…and that was clay. Starting small with an electric kiln, and selling primarily to friends, Celia’s first big leap came 18 years ago, when, as part of an independent study course at USM, she constructed her large, propane-fired kiln. During the process she sought the advice of Karen Karnes, an internationally known potter. She eventually earned triple academic credits for this huge project, but more importantly, her new kiln enabled her to step up production. She began displaying and selling her plates and mugs on picnic tables set up in her yard. All the while she was learning from other potters, from ceramics periodicals and, most importantly, through experimenting with clay bodies, glazes, and techniques which are uniquely hers and which she has continued to develop and refine. The next leap forward was the construction of her Gallery -- another hands-on project which she and her family completed 12 years ago. Initially, to beef up her inventory she displayed the work of two dozen other potters but shortly realized she could fill the shelves with her own work. Today, Pottery by Celia (on route 114 out of Naples) is a showroom for both her thrown and handbuilt pieces. In addition to her signature “birch bark” canoes and vases she has lovely bowls fashioned from sea shells, cabbage leaves, molds of depression glass, and pieces textured with lace and burlap. She is particularly proud of her copper red glaze. Celia sells much of her work directly from her own gallery, but reports that Gallery 302 is an important source of sales and referrals, particularly during the summer months. Her work is also at White Mountain Arts and Crafts Gallery, and she shows at Art in the Park, the Lovell Craft Show, Fryeburg Fair, Laudholm Nature Festival, Common Ground Fair, and Grand Lakes Stream Folk Arts Festival. Besides her busy work schedule, she is also the proud mom of 17-year-old Sylvia who, when not in school, helps out at these shows. So what’s next? Celia would like to tackle teapots and perhaps work in a more sculptural mode. Her project for the winter is to construct a raku kiln, which she hopes to complete before next summer. She’d also like to continue to experiment with jewelry made from Precious Metal Clay (PMC), which contains particles of either silver or bronze and, when fired (on a stovetop!) and polished, looks just like metal jewelry. She’s contemplated going back to school for an MFA and teaching on the college level. Finally, she’d like to share her experiences and expertise with other potters by writing a book. And judging by her successes so far, it should be a best seller! |
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