Elaine Y Shore - Ceramics

Arcata Artisan since 2017

A little bit about Elaine…

I love to create complex, decorated surfaces on porcelain.  I combine painting, carving, texture and color, making pieces that are functional, beautiful art that can be used every day. It’s very labor-intensive, but very satisfying. I always say that each piece is the prototype of the next piece. There is so much to learn!

 Art was always part of my life, but I graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in mathematics.  This led to a long career programming complex financial models and working on large financial transactions.

Born and raised in the Bronx, New York. I and my mom, who was very creative, would frequently use random, scavenged materials to create unique items. We painted, drew, sculpted, knitted, crocheted and sewed. As a young teen, I would draw pencil portraits of the neighborhood kids if they’d sit still long enough.

 But one day I enrolled in a local community ceramics class and it was instant love for me. I was mesmerized by the potter’s wheel.  I would come home covered in clay, not very successful, but determined to learn this craft.

 Family and career intervened to take priority over ceramics and although I occasionally took a class or workshop, I didn’t take it seriously until I retired, moved to Arcata to be close to my daughter and grandchildren and discovered the Fire Arts Center in Arcata.

 I have spent most of the past ten years at Fire Arts, improving my technique and developing my persona style of work.I am a member of Arcata Artisans Cooperative Gallery and Trinidad Art Gallery. I also teach classes at Fire Arts.