Deanna was born in Clearfield, PA, and moved to Wyoming in high school where a friend talked her into taking a Ceramics class. She continued taking pottery classes through college and earned her BA from the University of Wyoming in Art with an emphasis in pottery. After college, Deanna returned to Pennsylvania and started taking classes at the Community Arts Center in Wallingford. She furthered her studies by taking workshops with artists Chris Staley, Tom Turner, Bill Van Gilder, Steven Hill, and more. Since 1991, she has
attended 10 National Council of Education of the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) conferences.
Deanna fell in love with making pottery in 1984 when she made her first pinch pot. Her work is wheel thrown stoneware pottery inspired by traditional forms, nature, the kitchen, and the suggestions of her collectors.
Deanna still works full time at a job that is not related to art. While limiting what projects she can accept due to time constraints, it also allows her to pick and choose what she would like to work on without money being the main concern. She enjoys the challenge of special requests. However since she makes pottery part time the special requests often end up being inspiration for future work, sometimes years later.
A Haverford Guild member since 2011, Deanna has been participating in Craft Fairs since 1992. Loving the direct contact with the people who will be using her pottery, she normally participates in about 30 events per year. Her craft shows include 2 Potters Guild Sales, 2 Haverford Guild of Craftsmen Sales, Lansdowne Farmers Market & Swarthmore Farmers Market, 2 Stahl’s Pottery Festivals, a few events at Eagleview Town Center, the Tinicum Arts Festival, A Bit of The Arts, Downingtown Good Neighbor Day, Swarthmore Makers Market, and whatever looks like fun and fits in her schedule during the year.
When asked about her philosophy, Deanna says, “Everything is temporary. Enjoy & appreciate the good times & know the bad times will pass. You have the power to change things if & when you choose to do so.”
deramicsclaystudio.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Deramics/