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Donna Flanery

Donna Flanery

The child-like images of Donna Flanery’s pottery offer adults support and encouragement in a world full of serious problems. The cartoon style engages the use of humor, and replaces grimness with lightness. 

Donna lives in Missoula, Montana. Her playful, painted pots have been shown around the country and have taken her to residencies in Germany, China, Minneapolis, and The Archie Bray Foundation. She enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, and baking.

 

"Playful​ ​painted​ ​animal​ ​characters​ ​envelope​ ​my​ ​pottery.​ ​Although​ ​childlike,​ ​these​ ​pots​ ​provide adults​ ​with​ ​support​ ​and​ ​encouragement​ ​in​ ​a​ ​world​ ​full​ ​of​ ​serious​ ​problems.​ ​The​ ​cartoon​ ​style engages​ ​the​ ​use​ ​of​ ​humor,​ ​and​ ​replaces​ ​grimness​ ​with​ ​lightness.​ ​In​ ​my​ ​work,​ ​we​ ​are​ ​reminded of​ ​our​ ​needs​ ​for​ ​play​ ​and​ ​naivety.​ ​Characters​ ​are​ ​found​ ​engaging​ ​in​ ​a​ ​game,​ ​drinking​ ​tea​ ​or staring​ ​out​ ​with​ ​window.​ ​These​ ​are​ ​things​ ​which​ ​are​ ​generally​ ​not​ ​elevated​ ​in​ ​a​ ​culture​ ​which requires​ ​maturity​ ​and​ ​rewards​ ​discipline.​ ​I​ ​wish​ ​to​ ​liberate​ ​our​ ​playful​ ​personalities.

A​ ​sequence​ ​develops​ ​from​ ​the​ ​use​ ​of​ ​three​ ​dimensional​ ​space.​ ​Often,​ ​two​ ​distinct​ ​sides​ ​create the​ ​narrative.​ ​Different​ ​views​ ​reveal​ ​new​ ​information​ ​as​ ​the​ ​viewer​ ​walks​ ​around​ ​the​ ​piece​ ​or moves​ ​it​ ​in​ ​their​ ​hands.​ ​Because​ ​both​ ​sides​ ​are​ ​never​ ​viewed​ ​in​ ​the​ ​same​ ​moment,​ ​both​ ​space and​ ​time​ ​are​ ​needed​ ​in​ ​the​ ​telling.​ ​My​ ​pots​ ​are​ ​themselves​ ​stories,​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​referring​ ​to​ ​the narrative​ ​forms​ ​of​ ​children’s​ ​books​ ​and​ ​comic​ ​books.

I​ ​use​ ​techniques​ ​from​ ​both​ ​children’s​ ​book​ ​illustrators​ ​and​ ​comic​ ​book​ ​artists​ ​to​ ​develop​ ​my images.​ ​I​ ​keep​ ​a​ ​comic​ ​diary,​ ​a​ ​short​ ​daily​ ​comic​ ​strip​ ​of​ ​something​ ​that​ ​happened​ ​that​ ​day. This​ ​provides​ ​me​ ​with​ ​relatable​ ​material​ ​to​ ​draw​ ​from​ ​when​ ​painting​ ​on​ ​my​ ​pots.

My​ ​pots​ ​provide​ ​consolation​ ​and​ ​hope.​ ​They​ ​promote​ ​a​ ​playful,​ ​tender​ ​approach​ ​to​ ​living.​ ​On the​ ​surface​ ​of​ ​utilitarian​ ​objects​ ​such​ ​as​ ​teapots,​ ​watering​ ​cans​ ​and​ ​mugs,​ ​my​ ​images​ ​take their​ ​natural​ ​place​ ​in​ ​our​ ​domestic​ ​lives."

  • $75
    Donna Flanery

    Plate

    Donna Flanery's imagery takes inspiration from the warm, cheerful whimsy of children's books. This piece is made of stoneware and measures approxim...

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  • $75
    Donna Flanery

    Plate

    Donna Flanery's imagery takes inspiration from the warm, cheerful whimsy of children's books. This piece is made of stoneware and measures approxim...

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  • $75
    Donna Flanery

    Bowl

    Donna Flanery's imagery takes inspiration from the warm, cheerful whimsy of children's books. This piece is made of stoneware and measures approxim...

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  • Sold
    $75
    Donna Flanery

    Mug

    Donna Flanery's imagery takes inspiration from the warm, cheerful whimsy of children's books. This piece is made of stoneware and measures approxim...

    View full details