Ellen Sachtchale, of Clayton: Pottery as Expression

The following press release feature comes from the Clay Arts Guild:

The burst of green grass on Mount Diablo and colorful wildflowers on the hillsides stimulate gardeners to think about brightening their own yards and patios with plants, water features and garden decoration.

But where can they get unique pots and garden ware in which to put those plants?

The Clay Arts Guild will focus on outdoor garden pots and garden decoration at the Artists’ Market spring sale Friday through Sunday. A reception with live music, light refreshments and a flower-arranging demo kicks off the sale from 5-9 p.m. Friday at the Civic Park Studio, 1313 Civic Dr. The sale continues 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and April 29, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday at the Civic Park Studio. The art lovers will be everywhere on the sidewalks of downtown Walnut Creek as the Downtown Business Association also holds its Fine Arts and Crafts Festival Saturday and Sunday on North Main Street and Locust Street (the latter will be closed to vehicle traffic for several blocks).

Among the potters demonstrating hand-building techniques and selling her work is Ellen Sachtchale of Clayton. Sachtchale began teaching classes for Walnut Creek Civic Arts in 1999 after she moved to the Bay Area from North Carolina.

“I fell in love with clay when I started taking classes at age 14,” said Sachtchale. “I can throw (pots on a wheel) but I prefer hand-building. It’s more creative. You’re not limited to keeping it round and I like texturizing the pot’s surface.”
Sachtchale has sold her work at Valley Arts Gallery, the Firehouse Gallery in Pleasanton and Mt. Diablo Nursery. She regularly teaches pottery workshops in Mendocino.

It’s easy to find manufactured pots at garden stores or big box stores, but Sachtchale said she prefers hand-built ones.

“It’s expressive,” she said. “It personalizes an environment. In a world where there is so much technology and traffic, having handmade pots shows their personhood. It keeps the world alive.”