The sweet and chunky ceramics of Sandi Pierantozzi look like they belong to Alice, in her house somewhere in Wonderland. Clear, bright pastels in many hues sit side by side on the pieces, which are often decorated with simple, all-over textured patterns that create yet another opportunity for yet more playful colour.

Primarily working with slab-built porcelain, Sandi decorates her surfaces through slip trailing, a technique which uses liquid clay coloured with ceramic stains and applied with a squeeze bottle or bulb with a needle applicator. Inspiration comes from many sources including  architecture, fashion, beads and “taking the time to look at nature up close”.

 

 

She has been working in clay since 1984, but didn’t start up full time until 1995. “My background is in Graphic Design and Printmaking and I worked as a designer for 20 years, and did clay in the evenings because I loved doing it.  When computers took over the Graphics industry, I did not like it and got out of that business. That is when I started doing clay full time and began selling my work at various craft shows.” Now she works in her Philadelphia studio with husband and business partner Neil Patterson, also a potter, where they also run evening classes.

 

 

Sandi credits her seamstress mother with teaching her about the importance of working with her hands.  “She taught me how to cook, sew, knit, crochet and instilled in me a deep appreciation for hand made things.  I believe it was her guidance that helped me know I wanted to work with my hands as a way of life.”

 

 

As with most full-time artists,  financial issues are never too far away, but it has its advantages. “I think the biggest obstacle was finding a studio I could afford.  My workspace is not very big, but it is efficient. I have photos all over the wall to inspire me, and my husband, Neil, works right next to me in his not very big space! Working with Neil is great, and we enjoy bouncing ideas off of each other.” And, because she lives in the city, she doesn’t have or need a car. “I can walk, bike or do public transportation to most things I need to get to.”

 

 

When there have been technical failures, or a show hasn’t sold as well as hoped; when things aren’t going so well, Sandi remains optimistic.  “The best thing is all of the great people in the field of clay who I met mostly at craft shows and have developed life long friendships with. You always meet terrific artists at shows which helps us all overcome a poor sales weekend. When sales are down, that is usually when a lot of trading with other artists goes on, which is always great fun.”

 

 

You can find more of Sandi’s work on the studio website, www.neighborhoodpotters.com.