Amy Evans

Amy Evans at MudFire

Gallery group show de la Fleur, February 2012

Amy Evans Artist Bio

Amy Evans is currently an Assistant Professor of Art and Head of the Art Department at Walters State Community College in Morristown, Tennessee. Prior to teaching at Walters State, she has taught workshops at the Arrowmont School of Art and Crafts, The Appalachian Center for Arts and Crafts, and The St. Petersburg Clay Company as well as Eckerd College. She received her MFA in ceramics from East Carolina University in 1998 and her BFA in design from the University of North Texas in 1993. She has exhibited her work nationally and has been included in several publications including Ceramics Monthly and 500 Pitchers.

Amy shares a studio with her husband and fellow ceramic artist Chuck McMahon in Sevierville, Tennessee where they are raising their two boys Elijah and Finnley.

Amy Evans Artist Statement

My work revolves around the idea of comfort, both physical and psychological. I see pots as having the incredible privilege of being a part of people's private everyday lives. Because of this intimacy, we let our guard down around pots.

Ornamentation is important to my ideas. I use color and pattern as a way to connect with the user. Color has its own psychology that everyone relates and responds to. The colors I choose to use are meant to give the viewer a subdued relaxed feeling. I find that the subtle shifts between the layers of white and cream slips add depth but also lead the user to a feeling of peace. In addition, I add cooler colors to enhance the surface and reinforce the feelings of comfort and serenity that I seek to achieve in my pots. Patterns run continuously to create narrow borders or to fill large amounts of space. They can flow into tight curves just as easily bend around the belly of a form. The patterns create visual movement representing water and plants. More subtle patterns float in the background giving the eye areas of rest and peacefulness.

The making begins on the wheel, or with bisque molds, slab construction, and coil building. I use shellac, slips, wax, and the inlay technique to slowly build up a decorative surface. White slip brushed over with cream slip and the red earthenware helps to create depth. Shiny translucent glazes are applied over the decorated areas with accents of color to further develop a weathered but serene depth in the surface of my pots.