Details
| First Name | Valinda |
| Last Name | Chandler |
| Nickname | Valinda |
My Ceramics
| In the studio I like to do | Handbuilding, Throwing on the Wheel, Sculpting |
| Pottery Wheel | Shimpo |
| Clay body | Stoneware |
| Clay Brand | Laguna BMix 5 and Ky Mudworks Iceman |
| Kiln Type | Electric Kiln |
| Kiln Atmosphere | Oxidation Atmosphere |
| Temperature | 2212 F |
| Glaze | Amaco, Mayco, Spectrum brands |
| You can buy my work from | vchandlercreations.etsy.com facebook.com/ArtbyRodChandler (I have changed the page name to Chandler Creations but the URL has remained the old address. It is a collection of both my work and my husbands also) or at local events around Western NC |
About Me
| Introduction | My names Valinda, I live in Brevard NC. I wheel throw and  hand built functional pottery and little oddities. I’m interested in new techniques and ideas to keep my hobby exciting. |
| What I Love about Ceramics | There is always something to learn and the feel of the clay just soothes my soul. |
| How I started with ceramics | My older sister took ceramics in high school and I remember her teaching me to dig up clay out of the ditches in WV. 8 years later I took ceramics in high school and nearly failed the class. I was saved by acing the vocabulary test.  It dampened my enthusiasm but it stayed in the back of my mind as a bucket list event. 7 years ago, when I turned 50 I took a 6 week hand building class. I was hooked from day one. I began making things at home and transporting 45 minutes away to fire. I then bought a small skutt test kiln. A few years later I took one wheel throwing class and bought a wheel. I quickly outgrew the small kiln and bought a larger one. (They will sell those to anyone. I really had no idea how to use it) I’ve learned so much from YouTube videos and Facebook groups. The ceramic community is so encouraging and share knowledge so freely. |
| What inspires me | My surroundings in the mountains of western NC. The colors are so vibrant. Trees, rocks, mountains, flowers, flowing water, it all speaks to me and creates inspiration. |
| What I'm working on at the moment | Fountain/birdbath and miniature hobbit houses. |
| My Artist Statement | Create what makes you happy. What sparks joy within you and people who see your work. When people come to my booth. I want to see them break out in a spontaneous smile or chuckle. When they reach in the cabinet for a coffee mug and see one of mine, I want them to smile. |
| My CV | I do small festivals around WNC. I’d love to be brave enough and ready to participate in our 3 day local White Squirrel Festival in May and also I’d love to go back to Wilson NC, where I lived for 20 years and participate in their 3 day whirligig festival. |
