Some people exude peace and serenity, creativity and artistry. In the very best situations, these attributes are channeled into a medium that can be shared with others.
Aya Zucker is one such person, a potter whose gentle nature and creative spirit translate into beautiful pieces of functional art.
Aya has been working with clay since she was in the third grade, in Israel. She immediately fell in love with the feel of the clay in her hands, and spent many years working with sculpture before she was introduced to the pottery wheel in her early twenties.
I was first introduced to her work when I heard she was donating dozens of handmade ceramic bowls to our school fundraiser. I fell in love with a particular design she had made, and bought half a dozen bowls.
When I asked her to make me some other pieces in the same style, she exceeded my expectations.
I also couldn't resist a stunning porcelain tea set she made with a beautiful celadon glaze.
I was fortunate to watch her work and learn about the basics of pottery-making recently as she gave my husband a refresher course. It was fascinating to watch a dull grey lump of clay be transformed into an elegant shape under her skilled hands.
Aside from creating pieces for artisan festivals and custom orders, Aya also volunteers weekly at the Irvine Fine Art Center.
