Susan Sawyer, Khnemu Gallery Artist

Artists Statement:

I grew up on an 80 acre horse farm and spent many hours exploring the wetlands in the back of my parent’s property.   Since I was a little girl, I have always made "critters" out of almost anything.  I remember many times in school getting in trouble for the little animals, made from rubber erasers, parading across my desk. 

I went to college to get a degree in Biology, but I always took art classes as electives.  After receiving a Masters of Biology at Michigan State University, I took a job teaching at a community college.   It wasn't until after a few years of teaching that I discovered the world of clay.  Since the first pottery class I took, I was hooked.

Clay lets me make things that I never thought I could.  I love nature and the outdoors which I try to reflect in my art. I try to put personality and movement in all my pieces. 

Animals have always been a big part of my life, especially horses, so it’s no surprise that most of my work has some kind of animal involved.  When making my “critters”, I always try to have them tell a story with the expression in their faces.  One of my goals when making a piece is the hope that the person viewing the piece can experience the joy I had in making it. 

Member of West Michigan Potter’s Guild