I am Abby.
The name AbbyNormal came from my father. When I was a child he used to call me abbynormal. He teased I was named after the abnormal brain in the film, Young Frankenstein (if you haven't seen it, its an Gene Wilder classic). The name stuck.
I live in Grand Rapids Michigan where I make art in my home studio. I throw, sculpt, glaze and fire in my own backyard. I started ceramics at a young age. I remember in elementary school the first ceramics piece I crafted was a standing cat, dressed in clothes (you'll find cats are still a theme in my work). I continued my love for ceramics throughout high school and into college where I ended up working at Grand Rapids Community College's ceramics studio. I currently work as a teaching artist for WMCAT, a non-profit organization that is committed to exposing teens to the arts and multimedia. I often host on-site workshops for making clay goodies or painting pottery. I offer wheel throwing classes at my home studio. If you are interested in one of my workshops or lessons reach out to me at [email protected].
I love bringing color into my work and into the homes of individuals. I try to balance the value of my ceramic wares with affordability to help art reach a multitude of people. The materials I currently work with stoneware clay and a multitude of glazing techniques, but my favorite is sgraffito (a carving method). I enjoy problem solving and if you're a potter, you understand that is a key component of studio life! I enjoy teaching kids and adults pottery, as it can be very meditative to have your hands in mud.
Thanks for visiting me,
AbbyNormal