Pine Island, MN
Wolf Tracks Clay
2023 Booth #75
©Janine Schwendinger
I’m Janine Schwendinger. I took 1 ceramics class in high school, and have loved this medium ever since, being inspired by it’s functional beauty. I earned a degree in molecular biology, and have a nursing degree. In 2012 I could no longer resist my true passion, pottery, and I began the process of teaching myself the art of pottery. I now live near Rochester, Minnesota in the middle of the woods surrounded by my first love, nature, and all it’s glorious inspiration.
My pieces are made with a stoneware clay body and are wheel thrown, hand built or a combination of both techniques. I do freehanded slip trailing, carving and sgraffito to decorate much of my work. Hand pulled handles and hand built appliqué are also used on many of my pieces.
I am inspired by nature, and it’s perpetual movement through time and space. Sgraffito is my way of showing this movement. As I scratch through the clay each stroke leaves a story, a history of motion and energy, a way to immortalize a moment in time. Each piece is it’s own story.