Crafts in Asheville, NC

Lee creates two different lines of hand painted pottery, white with cobalt blue and green with brown. Each line of the piece is drawn by hand, with stencils being used to form the basic shape for the animals he will be frequently using. Drawing each line makes each piece a little bit different and gives Lee artistic license to improvise.

The designs have a Provencial French feel; including bunnies, chickens, dragonfly's, and playful cats. Even the pillowpots might have a hand painted radish, or dragonfly printed on the top; made with his quick, precise brushstrokes. The tableware designs, including butter keepers, brie bakers, and casserole dishes to name a few, have a country French charm and inspire creativity in the kitchen. We enjoy quick recipes that he includes with select pieces of his hand painted pottery, including a Jack Daniels baked brie, and microwave scrambled eggs for the egg scrambler.

Lee's studio is just north of Asheville in Weaverville, NC. He has no other employees but his partner Douglas, who does most of the glazing, while Lee throws the pots and paints each one. Lee has been at this for longer then he'd like to, or would admit, and has trained two generations of local potters. He has a real zest for life and a passion for his craft. In addition to his two lines of hand painted pottery he has a Ikebana vase collection and various designs with black glaze and Asian inspiration.

Charles grew up on the beach in California in the 60's. Art is in his blood.

He uses different types of glass, metal, stone, and fusible European glass paint for his centerpieces. This glass charger is an example of his line of work inspired by the Blue Ridge Mountains near his home in West Asheville.

We are lucky that Charles decided to make his home in Asheville, and his work can now be seen at our gallery, Van Dyke Jewelry and Fine Craft, and the various Southern Highland Craft Guild galleries.

Susan Hutchinson designs wrought iron tables and wrought iron wall art from her studio north of Asheville. Her work is whimsical and functional, a blend of masculine material with a feminine touch. Her wrought iron tables are designed with granite and glass tops and often are inspired by nature, with leaves and vines molded from the metal and legs designed like branches. Her range of work spans from ethereal music stands to plant stands, wall shelves and stained glass window hangings.

Stained Glass and Wrought Iron
Susan is noticeably modest about her work. She mentions in a recent interview, "I take a piece of steel, heat it to 2000 degrees, and then wrestle it to the ground with a hammer and anvil." Well, that's probably how it feels in the middle of summer.

Wrought Iron Table with Granite
On occasion she can be found teaching at the John Campbell school in North Georgia and area blacksmithing conferences. She has over 25 years of experience working her craft, and opens her studio up every year for the Weaverville Art Safari, which happens every spring and fall.

Fiber wall art made from recycled clothing.

mijafiberart.com

Pottery by James Cornell, Landrum, SC

"Making pottery is a process, a journey, mostly controlled by the artist, but sometimes directed by the material itself. It is that interplay or dialogue between artist and material that still keeps the work interesting to me."

-JAMES CORNELL

Asheville crafts at Van Dyke Jewelry and Fine Craft