A certified art educator and a licensed clinical
professional counselor with a full time practice in the area, Jesse Romanoff Burton opened Clay Run Studio Arts to form a community collaboration for artists all around the lakes region. The foundation of the studio is choose and paint pottery. The bisque pottery is selected, painted with the special paints and then is fired in a kiln. Within two weeks, artists return to see their beautiful art work.
“I’d like it to be very cooperative and community based
to make art accessible,” said Burton. She plans to gear the business toward a
non-profit business model as soon as she can.
“It’s art for art sake,” she added.
The bisque painting is the most obtainable art and is
available whenever the studio is open. The price on the piece is the entire
cost for painting, firing and taking the project home. Artists are welcome to
come in anytime the shop is open, no reservations are required. In addition to
the bisque, there is a growing variety of other projects.
Clay Run is now offering naked fish painting, where
artists put their own touch on different sizes of cut barn board. There are
many designs to copy or create your own. The fish and a few other painting
projects can be taken the same day. Mosaic picture frames and mirrors can be completed
in one class.
One of the special touches from Clay Run is the option to
have the pottery mailed home for those artists visiting from away. Since the kiln
is only fired when it is full, it could take up to two weeks for a project to
be completed. Burton creates the availability for vacationers to experience
this form of art.
She would like to see art teachers and those working
toward teaching degrees teach classes at the studio. Burton is open to
collaboration with local artisans and also offers individual art lessons.
The space is not only a studio, it is a place for local
artisans to display their work. Local artists showing their work now are painter
Bonnie Spiegle, sculptor and painter Nevison Daley and artisan jewelry on
display by VRDesigns and Waters Edge Studio by Ivy Jordan.
“This studio is for people who love making and learning
through visual art,” Burton said.
Twice a month, the second and last Friday of the month, the
teens and tweens take over the gallery to paint pottery and socialize.
There are plans to have a night for exchange students
“What better place than for people from all over the world to come create art,”
Burton said. There will be a ladies night once a month, but the dates haven’t
been set yet.
She also teaches a class for students with intellectual
disabilities. The current class focuses on the master painters. With all the
classes Burton meets the students where they are at in their artistic
abilities.
“It’s all about making the art accessible,” she said.
“There’s an artist is everybody.”
And, if there’s not enough time to create a personalized
piece, original pieces are available to purchase.
On Saturdays there are walk-in art classes from 2 p.m. to
4 p.m. with a variety of mediums. Most projects take about an hour and a half
to complete.
Burton has a fire arts degree and a master’s degree in
clinical mental health counseling. Burton grew up in Portland, but has lived in
this area for 24 years and knows what the community needs for artistic
expression.
Future plans involve wet clay throwing and jewelry making
classes. “It’s a call to artists and artisans, for teachers and those who want
to be a teacher,” to come show the community different art forms and
techniques, Burton said. “This is for people who want to learn different types
of art.”
Private parties are encouraged. She asks that you book in
advance to reserve space for a birthday party, bachelorette party, family
reunion or any special occasion. Burton will also travel for large groups to
their location. Need 100 plates for a family gathering? She can bring them,
fire them and deliver the finished products.
The studio is open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday
afternoons and evening. Stop in to learn more and to pick up a unique gift for
someone special. For more updates on classes and schedules, visit Clay Run
Studio Arts on Facebook or text 207-693-8916 for more information.
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