Fusing Function With Nature

“Growing up, I saw my mom drink pot after pot of tea from her Yixing China teapot,” Regina Wolff recalled; “I was inspired by its wood carved handle and top.” A few years ago, Wolff's mother gave her that teapot, which now sits decoratively in her kitchen. However, the inspiration she drew from such a small notion – so early in life – is visible throughout her current body of work. “I'm always learning something new that may one day work itself into my own style of pottery,” Wolff said. She attends workshops, buys cookbooks because of the interesting dishes holding the food, peruses fabric stores and scours garden centers, continually expanding upon her sources for inspiration.

When I first stepped into Wolff's re-purposed, two-car garage, I was struck with serious studio envy. The plant-filled space was strewn with light from all sides and above; racks and shelves lined the walls, overflowing with pottery in every phase of production; ceramic fish, frogs and rattles covered a large table as Wolff emptied her recently fired kiln.

As we sat drinking hot tea from handmade mugs – “Once you drink coffee or tea from a good, handmade mug, you won't want to use store bought cups,” Wolff noted – she detailed her life as an artist, and now, a teacher.

Wolff teaches ceramics at Atlanta's Spruill Center for the Arts and Tucker's Zen and Now Clay Studio.

The instructor profile below is provided by the Spruill Center.

“Regina Wolff grew up in the small beach community of Rockaway Park, NY. She took her first pottery class at the Brooklyn Museum at age 11. After attending college at the University of Connecticut and Georgia State University, Regina began her pottery career making wheel thrown, functional pieces and selling them at local craft shows and galleries in Atlanta. Over the years, Regina's passion for nature and gardening has played a major role in developing her pottery style. Although her work continues to be primarily functional, naturalistic, sculptural elements are incorporated into nearly every piece she produces."

This summary, while accurate, doesn't fully convey the enthusiasm with which Wolff puts herself into her pottery. “I'm more excited about my art now that I was a really long time ago,” Wolff admitted, smiling.

From within her studio, she creates intricate, nature-inspired pieces. Her woodcarving technique achieves reality, and her leaves are attached so naturally and delicately they allow you to believe they've floated down and landed accidentally. “I don't want the leaves to look pressed on,” Wolff explains; “I want people to believe it's possible to stumble across [my pieces] while walking through the woods.”

While her main focus is as a functional potter – creating mugs, casserole dishes, plates, platters, teapots, cake stands, planters and frames – she does push her limits. “I set up puzzles for myself,” Wolff declared. Always challenging herself to make new forms and more intricate pieces led her to create lantern houses. These detailed, almost whimsical pieces are made for holding candles, but they're also contained, miniature worlds. For example, one side of the gourd or log is open, allowing viewers to catch glimpses of books, tables, chairs, lamps – a scene unfolding within. Lizards chasing bugs, swirling branches and leaves, worms and expertly cut-out windows define the outside of these creations.

“I love watching people walk into my booth at craft shows, pause, then smile as they notice the details in my pieces,” Wolff said of her lantern houses, as well as her other work. Each year she attends four craft shows – Norcross, Clairmont Elementary, Dunwoody and a home show.

When not in her personal studio or traveling to fairs, you can find Wolff teaching. “Teaching has been an unexpected joy for me,” she said. Tucker's Zen and Now owner Christine Winokur “talked me into it,” Wolff said. “I was so nervous to begin,” she recalled, but Wolff now enjoys educating others, helping to support them while they find their own “creative path,” she said. As a teacher, Wolff gives her students the technical and fundamental skills they need to explore beyond the class or workshop. Teaching others has also forced Wolff to experiment more within her own craft, working not only to create, but creating while learning how to explain her techniques and projects to others.

About Tucker's Zen and Now Studio, Wolff said: “Every studio feels differently, has its own vibe. Working at Zen and Now is great; everyone is extremely nice and friendly. It's very collaborative, and everyone is willing to help. It's a supportive environment, and we laugh a lot.”

“One of the best things that happened to me as an artist,” Wolff continued, “was when a friend of mine called to tell me she saw pottery at Fernbank museum that looked exactly like mine.” Upset, Wolff traveled to the museum, and at first, she was quite disconcerted by the fact that another artist possessed a similar style. “Get over it,” another friend advised her. “That experience propelled me to go in a different direction,” Wolff said laughing.

Today, she loves sharing her techniques and experiences with her colleagues and students, and she takes pride in being able to influence the work of others. Wolff continues to draw heavily on the inspiration of the natural world – even teaching an upcoming class at Zen and Now focused on nature forms. With an artist philosophy rooted in fusing the functional with the beautiful, and with an ever increasing passion for her work, Tucker and the art community as a whole can expect to see more from Regina Wolff.