Kathryn Stovall Dennis
Ceramic Sculpture ~ Tile ~ Ceramic Tableware ~ Mosaics ~ Murals ~ Stained Glass ~ Painting
~ Fused Glass ~ Illustration ~ Graphics
I have always lived near and played in the ocean so it is natural that water symbols, fish,
sea life, and mythological sea creatures often appear as design elements in my work. I love to comb the beach for driftwood, bamboo, and other storm debris to incorporate into my pieces. Historical aspects of African, Asian, and Celtic cultures influence my work. Those, mixed with my love and background of graphic arts, illustration, and painting result in the compilation of design elements I use to create surface decoration as well as my forms. It doesn’t matter if the piece is sculptural, functional, wheel thrown, hand built, mosaic, or a combination of many: those influences are ever present.
Large colorful wall plates have been a continuing theme in my ceramics work for many years. Starting with simple slab construction elevated on coiled feet, I then incorporate various textures using my handmade stamps, cloth, wallpaper, and carving to embellish the surface resulting in a more interesting “canvas”. After that I paint wax resist designs with a brush into which I inlay glazes. The result is a very three dimensional feeling on a two dimensional surface. My firing range varies from cone 06 through cone 10 depending on the finished result I am trying to achieve.
Most of my work is created at my ceramics studio in San Clemente, California where I live with my wonderful husband. Our two grown children live with their families up the west coast.
sea life, and mythological sea creatures often appear as design elements in my work. I love to comb the beach for driftwood, bamboo, and other storm debris to incorporate into my pieces. Historical aspects of African, Asian, and Celtic cultures influence my work. Those, mixed with my love and background of graphic arts, illustration, and painting result in the compilation of design elements I use to create surface decoration as well as my forms. It doesn’t matter if the piece is sculptural, functional, wheel thrown, hand built, mosaic, or a combination of many: those influences are ever present.
Large colorful wall plates have been a continuing theme in my ceramics work for many years. Starting with simple slab construction elevated on coiled feet, I then incorporate various textures using my handmade stamps, cloth, wallpaper, and carving to embellish the surface resulting in a more interesting “canvas”. After that I paint wax resist designs with a brush into which I inlay glazes. The result is a very three dimensional feeling on a two dimensional surface. My firing range varies from cone 06 through cone 10 depending on the finished result I am trying to achieve.
Most of my work is created at my ceramics studio in San Clemente, California where I live with my wonderful husband. Our two grown children live with their families up the west coast.
Installing the Mariposa Underpass tile sign at Mariposa Point in San Clemente. Check out how close the tracks are!
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Kathryn is teaching her Granddaughter and son in law to make pottery
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Working on the tiles for the San Clemente Sports Wall of Fame
Education: |
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1970 |
Art Center College of Design Graphics Arts Scholarship |
1970 - 1973 |
Walt Disney Co. Artist |
1971 - 72 |
Saddleback College Ceramics Instructor: Tom Gaines |
1973 - 75 |
Cal State Fullerton BFA Painting and Drawing MFA Program, 1 year 3 years ceramics- Instructor: Jerry Rothman |
Shows: |
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1972 |
Sawdust Festival, Laguna Beach CA |
1995 |
Cal State Fullerton Art Exchange Show |
1995 |
Irvine Fine Arts Center Juried All Media Show |
1996 |
Orton Cone Box Show Purchase Award |
1998 - 2001 |
Pacific Craft Show Orange County Museum of Art |
1998 - 2004 |
Orange County Center for Contemporary Arts (OCCCA) Form and Function Show |
1999 |
Tustin Renaissance Gallery Clay Academia Show |
2002 |
Riverside Community College Plates '02 Exhibition - Merit Award |
2003 |
NCECA (National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts) |
Exhibitions: |
|
2003 |
Ceramic Exhibition in conjunction with NCECA Trios Gallery, Solana Beach, CA |
2004 |
Southern California Ceramics Invitational Show Riverside Community College, CA |
2007 |
Southern California Ceramics Professors Invitational John Wayne Airport, Newport Beach, CA |
2019 |
Stoked Invitational Show Southern California Surfers & Ceramic Artists Xiem Gallery and Clay Center, Pasadena, CA |
Public Art Projects: |
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1999 - 2000 |
Tom Gaines Memorial Tiled Stairway Saddleback College Fine Arts Building, Mission Viejo, CA |
2002 - 2003 |
San Clemente Historical Society Tile Wall Project San Clemente Community Center, San Clemente, CA |
2006 |
Tiled Mosaic Murals and Benches Beach Trail San Clemente, CA |
2014 |
Aquatic Center Entry Murals Vista Hermosa Sports Park, San Clemente, CA |
2014 |
Courtney’s SandCastle Universal Playground Tile murals Vista Hermosa Sports Park, San Clemente, CA |
2015 - current |
San Clemente Sports Wall of Fame Athletic Sports Murals and Inductee Tiles Vista Hermosa Sports Park, San Clemente CA |
2015 |
Tile Restoration for Band Shell Building Recreation Park, City of Long Beach, CA |
2018 |
Prehistoric Dolphins Sculptural Mural Montanoso Recreation Center, Mission Viejo, CA |
2019 |
Mosaic Tiled Planter with Bench Saddleback Fine Art Courtyard (grant), Mission Viejo, CA |
Professorships: |
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Retired 20+ years |
Ceramics Professor Adjunct Saddleback College, Mission Viejo CA |
Retired |
Ceramics Professor Adjunct Mount San Antonio College, Walnut CA |
Retired |
Ceramics Professor Adjunct Riverside Community College, Riverside CA |