Linda Covington - Maker Monday's April 2024

Linda Covington

Linda has been entering her ceramic work into our exhibitions since 2015. She's been invited to show in our Members Invitational Exhibitions and won third place in the 49th Annual Earthworks (will she win again this year?) In addition, she exhibits her work around the region. Of note, she won an award for her pottery in the Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts' 109th Annual Exhibition.
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Though Linda has her own studio, she is a regular participant in our wood firings right here at SCAA.
To view more of her beautiful work, visit her website.

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Where are you from, and what do you make?
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I grew up as an Army brat so our family moved a lot.  Half of my father’s deployments were in Germany and the other half were in the U.S.  My father retired from the Army when I began High School and our family then settled in Northern California.  I’m often asked if moving so much as a child was a hardship.  For me it never was.  I saw each move as an adventure and always looked forward to experiencing a new place, culture and meeting new people.  

I work in clay.  I give careful consideration to both form and surface.  I am currently developing forms that I construct with slabs or throw and then alter.  I make use of simple geometric shapes and lines to guide my design decisions about form.  I love their elegance, simplicity and order.  My style of working is to start out with some basic idea.  However, I tend to work spontaneously and make decisions intuitively along the way about balance and integrity of form.  
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My aim for surface is to showcase the organic properties of clay and glaze.  I am especially fond of wood and pit firings.  I love the irregularities in color, sheen and texture.  What interests me most is the interplay between the form and surface; how they can contrast, complement and enhance one another in unexpected ways.  The outcome is always surprising and provides an opportunity for re-examination and looking at the work in a fresh way.

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How long have you been seriously pursuing art?

​I was living in Northern California in the early 1980s.  I was pursuing a degree in Counseling Psychology at San Jose State University.   I had previously taken a few pottery classes at a local community college and had heard that SJSU had an excellent Ceramics Department.  I found time in my schedule to sign up for classes and ended up spending a lot of time in the studio.  I also worked part-time in the ceramics studio of the Palo Alto Cultural Center.  Some of the most influential ceramicists came to give workshops; quite a few of them lived in the area.  Looking back, I got my start at a very exciting time and place in the field.  I feel grateful for that experience.  Clay has remained a meaningful part of my life since those early years.  Though it is only since I retired eight years ago that I’ve had the opportunity to work in a more focused and consistent way.

What inspires you to create?
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I am inspired by nature. I am especially fascinated by rock formations. The Japanese Wabi-Sabi aesthetic resonates with my thinking; that there is beauty in imperfection and an honoring of the natural cycle of life. I am drawn to things, both organic and inorganic, that show the passage of time. Wear, damage, erosion can add interest, depth and complexity.

Which artist outside of your chosen medium has had the most impact on your art? What do they do and in what way do they influence you?
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There are many but the artist that comes to mind is Sophie Taeuber-Arp because of my love of simple geometry.  She was a master of geometric art and used color in wonderful ways.  She was a painter, textile artist, sculptor, puppet maker, interior designer.  Her designs were precise and orderly and at the same time playful and heartfelt.

Is there a work of art that has changed your life or how you view the world in some way?
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Peter Voulkos had the greatest impact.  I saw several of his solo exhibitions when I was a student.  He truly broke the boundaries of ceramics and defied every convention.  His work is so powerful and full of vitality.   I also had a chance to meet him at his studio in Berkeley.  He did a quick demo of one of his massive platters.  He engaged with the clay very dynamically; continuously testing the limits by pounding, punching and slashing the surface.  It was quite an experience to see him in action and a real lesson in taking risks.  

As a member of SCAA, what do you like most about us?
I enjoy the community.  The staff and volunteers create a welcoming and supportive environment, and I so appreciate their dedication and hard work.  Over the years that I’ve been a member I’ve seen the staff do an amazing job at accommodating SCAA’s growth; the courses and programs are continuously expanding and there have been so many important improvements and upgrades to the buildings and facilities.  

Tell us a joke:
What is Earth without “art” in it?
​“Eh?”