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(American, b. 1943)
California ceramic sculptor Betty Spindler specializes in recreating the fruits, vegetables and other familiar still life subjects commonly found around her kitchen. Whether presented as single objects or contained in bowls or platters, these joyful still lifes typically boast brilliant colors, highlighted by her use of glossy, clear glaze finishes. She produces the works in a range of sizes, from life-size to heroic. Their appeal is universal and her artwork is widely collected.
Working with special-mix clay, the artist hand-builds her pieces over newspaper armatures, pressing and smoothing the thick clay with her hands until she has achieved the desired shapes and textures. She then low-fires her bisque forms, and, following overglazing, returns them for a second firing to produce their high gloss finish. The spectacular brilliance of her colors comes from her blending of various hues, her use of complimentary colors within a piece, and her overglazing process which heightens the colors and creates their sensual sheen. All combined, the artworks virtually sing with color.
I don’t try to interpret my work, and I don’t title it. When I look at art I never read the title. I like my art to communicate its own sense of self. When I show my work in places that house a lot of real accomplished artists, mine seem so simple. And yet, that’s exactly what I strive for, capturing the essence of what it is, without sacrificing the character that is my signature.
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Education
1990 University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, Ceramics
1966 AA Cerro Coso Community College, Ridgecrest, CA, Ceramics and oil painting
Awards
1990 Kersage College, University of California, Santa Cruz Calendar
1984 Artisan Scholarship Winner
1982 Sacramento State Capital Community College Art Show Participant
Bibliography
2001 Gamble, Harriet, Celebrating the Familiar: An Interview with Betty Spindler, Arts & Activities, May
2001 Lark, Frank, A Gallery of Contemporary Design Work, The Ceramic Design Book
1998 Crawford, Lisa, Betty Spindler’s Full Harvest, Ceramics Monthly, September
Shows
2000 Food Fare 2000, Planned Parenthood, Santa Monica, CA
1999 Pacific Craft Show, Orange County Museum of Art, Newport Beach, CA
1999 Ceramic Still Life, Sherry Frumkin Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
1998 SOFA Exposition in Chicago with Winfield Gallery, Carmel, CA