MEMBER OF THE CANTON CERAMIC ARTIST GUILD
AND MASSILLON COMMUNITY ARTS GUILD
Throwing demo using a portable Shimpo Aspire
Art has always been a large part of Suzi’s life. As a child her mother spent several years as an art teacher for the Massillon City Schools. She practiced her lessons with Suzi. On vacations while her brothers toured forts and military museums, Suzi and her mother toured art museums and galleries. She has tried her hand at many forms of art, but it wasn’t until later in life she fell in love with the ceramic arts.
Her first lessons were at the Canton Museum of Art where she took lessons from Bill Shearrow, a noted ceramic artist in the Canton area. She continued her studies with Deb Ferree, Sam Hoffman, Jack Valentine, Mary Boberski and others. In April 2014 and again in June 2015, she completed 2-day workshops in Milheim, PA, with Simon Leach.
Adding leaves to a hand-built pottery piece
For nearly 3 decades she has been involved in the ceramic arts and now has a studio in her home in Massillon, where she and her husband, Dr. Gawaine Banks, live.
Of her art, Suzi says, “I love to experiment with different techniques, designs and ideas … which makes each of my ceramic pieces unique and unusual. I create my art using white, brown and red stoneware, and porcelain. The firing techniques are electric cone 6, Raku, pit and other methods.
Decorating my pieces is often as varied as my techniques. I throw on the wheel, create using slabs and hand-building and embellish my art by adding on flowers, leaves, branches and other designs from nature, or by carving the leather hard clay for textural design.”
During her demos, Suzi brings along a portable wheel to show throwing techniques, or already thrown pieces that she embellishes by carving or adding on of designs.
Occasionally you will see crocheted items or jewelry with the Suzi signature, as she also dabbles in other creative endeavors. If she is not working on her art, she is creating Web designs from her home office for approximately 20 clients, or spending time with her 3 adult children and 8 delightful grand kids!
Glazing demonstration.
Oftentimes in the summer when the weather is nice and time allows, Suzi takes her portable Shimpo Aspire wheel outside on the front porch of her home and spends the day throwing. She says it helps her mood and heightens her creativity. Unfortunately, there is more good weather than time to throw.
Decorating my pieces is often as varied as my techniques. I throw on the wheel, create using slabs and hand-building and embellish my art by adding on flowers, leaves, branches and other designs from nature, or by carving the leather hard clay for textural design.”
