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Canines and clay: A creative mix

Nelson potter has a unique style
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Kimberley Hyatt and Rafael, her Pyrenees Sheepdog, exchange high fives during a walk on Mountain Station trail in Nelson.

Meet Kimberley Hyatt, a Nelson artist and dog lover with an affinity for the outdoors.

The How: Sgrafitto is the art of carving through a coloured layer on clay to reveal designs in a different colour underneath. “Graffiare” means to scratch in Italian and “graphein,” to write in Greek. I just call it addictive. Each platter is hand-built and the edge free-cut. The carving takes hours of loving attention.

The Influence: My love of animals, drawing, the pastoral and hand-me-down fabrics influences this series of work. I see the platter as a piece of fabric with the pattern going beyond its edge. Though I am a colourist at heart, the contrast of a rich black underglaze against a white porcelain clay body is simplicity at its best.

The Feeling: Most of all I want to create a feeling. The one you might have at the smell of fresh cut hay, a picnic under an oak tree or taking afternoon tea by French doors…

The Practical: The platters are durable having been high fired. You can warm them gradually in the oven for serving. I don’t recommend microwaving them and they are dishwasher safe. Red fruits and vegetables such as strawberries and beets can stain the clear glaze if left to sit for hours.

From my oven to your table ̶ may your meal be a merry one!

The Artist: I’ve lived in Nelson for 21 years and for nine in the Canadian Rockies before that. Long, long ago I was born in Ontario and migrated west after university. The Kootenay School of Arts provided me with a three-year education in clay and the outdoor world my muse.

You can find my art at hyattkimberley or Kimberley Hyatt Studios on Instagram and can contact me through email, hyatt.kimberley@gmail.com or 250-352-1702.

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A dog called Jeri, an interpretive porcelain dog mask.
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Clockwise top left: A porcelain dog mask of Kasha, a Belgian Sheepdog. Kimberley Hyatt and Rafael, her Pyrenees Sheepdog, exchange high fives during a walk on Mountain Station trail in Nelson. A dog called Jeri, an interpretive porcelain dog mask.