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About Shine Studios

april johnston

My name is April Johnston

In 2020, I stepped back in to pottery after walking away 20 years ago. I have run a successful photography business for most of those years. But when the world stopped in 2019, I craved a creative outlet while photography was not possible. I went back to pottery and the love of clay was found again.

 

For me this time around, I fell in love with hand building. To create each and every piece myself from start to finish.  I dream in texture and then hand build a shape that I feel the texture can shine upon. So often the texture is the first process for me and the shape of the  vessel comes from how the texture will flow upon it. I like creating each vessel in a way that  I can bring the textures of our surroundings and mix them with the traditional art of clay, that is what inspires my work.

 

I love the topography of our California beaches and deserts.. I love to find and create textures similar to my surroundings.  Often picking up random rocks along beach, taking home broken corals sticks to study, often  taking photos of the way the sand meets the shore and the different colors and texture of the waves hitting sand.  When I travel to the desert I am inspired by the landscape and all the textures of the trees, the earth and the colors there.

 

My work as a potter has changed my outlook in many ways. I went from traveling the world monthly shooting athletes and celebrities ..enjoying the hustle and bustle of the crazy life of traveling photographer.  Now that I have re found pottery I jump up each day excited to head to my studio and create in solitude. My work is inspired by peace, it brings me the tranquility, harmony, peacefulness, and the stillness that I have craved for so long. My hope is that each piece that enters a clients home brings them the same calm and joy.

Stockists

Studio CT - California

Unreppd- California

1st Dibbs- Online

Palm Bungalow- West Palm Beach, FL

Bungalow Decor- Westport, CT

Diani Home- Santa Barbara, Ca

Clients

Kelly Wearstler Design

RH- Interior Design

RH- Newport Beach

Vanessa Rome Interiors

Amy Kalikow Design

Hazel James

Gemma Parker Design

Ana Hita Studio

Anna Karlin Design

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7933 Gloria Ave, suite 9 Lake Balboa ca 91406

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