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Handmade Tile Association Newsletter
S P O T L I G H T on artists and events

November
2015

 

  

Our 16th Year



Welcome to the November 2015 spotlight on Handmade Tile Association artists. We feature two to three tile artists every month, plus links and resources (at right) to many of the tile events, gallery shows, and workshops featured around the country. 
Has your membership lapsed? You will be recieving some upcoming reminders and request to become a 2016 member. Member support is essencial to our organization. Click here if you want to join or contact us if you are not sure your membership has lapsed. 
  

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Stone Hollow Tile 
Wendy Penta
Blaine, Minnesota

  
Wendy Penta has been making tile since 1997, when she founded her business of original, limited production handmade tiles.  She creates her tiles from scratch: first conceptualizing, then drawing, sculpting, molding, rolling, pressing, firing and glazing, before finally re-firing.  Hand-painted tiles are her specialty, whether the glazes are Golden Tonalist, Blue/Black/Green or Pastel, in milky blue whites.

Vertical "Vines" 3" x 6" on shower wall, Pastel glaze 
 
Above are Wendy's vine tiles, great for borders, both horizontal or vertical, with connecting pieces throughout, starring the McCoy Rose.  These tiles are a milky white with blue flowers.  Click here to check out three images of the installation

 
"Branches Tree" 6" x 12" in Old Copper glaze 
   
Wendy has found that many customers like to combine decorative hand-made tile with commercial tile or stone for their various installations, like in the backsplash above.  (Also available is a horizontal "Branches Tree" tile.)  Some customers who wanted only handmade tile or a monochromatic glaze color have partnered with North Prairie Tile or Clay Squared to Infinity to achieve their vision.

"Rolling Pine Tree Hills" backsplash, set of 5 tiles 

Stone Hollow offers sets of tiles, like the evergreens above (paired with tiles from North Prairie Tiles) that work well as a border.  Other sets include the five "Pond" and "Water Lily" tiles and the three piece "Landscape" series.  Her most recent undertakings are 3 dimensional Applied Clay tiles, a time-consuming but enjoyable new challenge.


In 2014 Stone Hollow won "Best Ceramics" at the Park Point Art Fair in Duluth for her tiles.  The award remarked on the "timeless quality" her work evokes.  Click here for ordering information.

- Contact Info -
Stone Hollow Tile
Wendy Penta 
8532 Edison St NE
Blaine, MN 55449
763-786-9102

  www.stonehollowtile.com 
Email:  [email protected]
Gallery:  Stone Hollow Tile Studio
Clay Squared to Infinity:  www.claysquared.com


House on the Hill Studio    
Martha Coursey
Atlanta, Georgia

 
Martha Coursey, owner of House on the Hill Studio, has been creating hand-painted tiles for over 30 years.  She is a graduate of Emory University in Atlanta where she received a BA in Art History and a Master of Librarianship degree.  She works out of her studio in Atlanta on both handpainted tiles and on mosaics.

A partial list of Martha's notable work includes the Peter Pan Pavilion at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, a restoration of tile in the Fox Theatre, Atlanta, and the design for fountains in the Egyptian Ballroom in the Fox. Her work has been featured in the Atlanta Decorators Showhouse and the Spotlight on Southeastern Artists.
 
"Mountain Meadow" mural 48" x 30" with side borders 

This wildflower mural is made up of 35 painted 6" x 6" tiles with two borders of 6" x 3" flowers.  It can be increased by adding horizontal borders to the top and bottom.

"Nautical Clipper" mural 30" x 30" includes knot border 

Looking for a marine theme?  Martha has three sets of fish tiles to choose from under Sportsman Flyfishing, and two sets under Sportsman Botanicals, as well as under Marine Series, which includes the clipper ship mural above.

Martha is a long-term supporter of the Brevard Music Center and serves on the board of the John C. Campbell Folk School.  To see the studios, including clay, jewelry, metal work, weaving, quilts, etc, click on the link.


"Old English Blue Polychrome" 6" x 6" tiles, 6" x 3" borders

Martha's tile line includes classic traditional images in French Provence style and in Old English, as in the blue pictoral tiles above.  Total size, including borders is 48" x 30".  
 
Tiles are available with a choice of backgrounds--white, bisque or bone ceramic. They are also available on handmade or commercial grade tile, tumbled marble or may be put on supplied stock.  Each order is painted and finished to the customer's specifications.  Click here for ordering information for custom projects or for in stock tiles.

 
- Contact -
House on the Hill Studio
Martha Coursey 

Tile Restoration Center    
Steve Moon
Vancouver, Washington

 
Errata:  an error in printing or writing

In last month's Spotlight, the Tile Restoration Center's phone number was given incorrectly.  To contact the Tile Restoration Center, please call 206-633-4866.  
 
Craftsman Fireplace with Custom Arch 
 
Did these artists spark your interest for your tile project or tile collection? If so, contact them to let them know what you like about their work. Sign up for their mailing lists and/or social media. One of the best ways to support handmade tile is to share your favorite tile artists with friends and colleagues. Be a tile maven and help spread the word!     

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Sincerely,

 

            

Josh Blanc
Handmade Tile Association, LLC
www.handmadetileassociation.org  

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