Liz Crain is a California-based ceramic artist known for her colorful hand-formed vessels and sculptures that combine functionality with artistic expression. Inspired by vintage containers, her artwork explores themes of industry and survival through unique surface treatments. She participates in various art shows and maintains an online presence through multiple platforms, showcasing her work and artistic journey.

1. Liz Crain
Palo Alto Clay & Glass Festival 2013
Lan Gao
ARTS 18A
Summer 2013

2. Liz Crain
My friend and I had an argument
outside of her booth: ”are these
ceramic work for real?”
And Yes! they are. So I stopped
and interviewed her.
Liz was born in Newport News, VA,
but became a lifelong Californian at
the age of five. She has lived in
both the San Fernando and Santa
Clara (Silicon Valleys), and currently
lives a half mile from the Monterey
Bay in Capitola.

3. Type of Work
Liz creates colorful hand
formed vessels and
sculptures. Her pieces
often end up as both
sculptural interpretations
and usable functional
vessels (or cans).
Many of her works contain
expressive shapes,
trompe l’oeil surfaces and
playful narratives.

4. Treatment
Liz applies many different surface
treatments, she specially favors
primitive, distressed and matte
finishes.
The exterior of vessels and
sculptures are finished in
underglazes, oxides, & washes,
with metallic and other glazes
as needed for “the look.”
Use food safe interior glazes
on the vessels (cans) and all
the lids are removable.

5. Inspiration
Dad’s Gas Can!
“The current direction for my ceramic
artwork is inspired by the marvelous
forms and surfaces of vintage
containers, whose aged appearances
evoke imagined narratives from their
working and playing lives.
Whatever the container’s original
purpose, the design, use, misuse an
discarding of each of them is a
unique story arc of industry, entropy
and survival which I try to express.”

6. A bad day in the studio
Everything is changeable, so…Learn to open up  & move on (working on
another project)

7. Other than Ceramics
Painting, Color Pencil, 2D art
2D portrait of her son, Max

8. “A lot to love, taste changes”
…
“Ok, here is one…
Julia Feld
Her painting on clay is incredible!
her booth is just right side of mine,
not far from my booth.
You should go visiting next.”
And I did! ^.^
Favorite Ceramic Artist
Julia Feld’s work

9. Patient;
Think outside of the
box;
Never quit learning;
And how to fix
problem!
What Ceramic taught
you in life?

10. Blog:
LizCrainCeramics.com
Facebook:
LizCrainCeramicart
Pinterest:
LizCrainCeramic
Etsy Shop:
LizCrainceramics
Websites

11. Many Hands Gallery
510 Bay Avenue,
Capitola, CA 95010
(831) 475-2500
Palo Alto Art Center Gallery
Shop
1313 Newell Road,
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 329-2366
Galeries

12. Second Annual Clay and
Glass
July 3–August 25, 2013
Healdsburg Center for the Arts
130 Plaza St.
Healdsburg, CA
(707) 431-1970
Sculpture Is: 2013
July 1–October 31, 2013
Sierra Azul Nursery-Garden
2660 E. Lake Ave.
Watsonville, CA
Upcoming Shows
Association of Clay and
Glass Artists/Richmond Art
Center Annual Members’
Show
July 15–August 23, 2013
Richmond Art Center
2540 Barrett Ave.
Richmond, CA
Best of Show:
Fur, Flippers, Feathers & Fuzz
June 26–August 4, 2013
Pajaro Valley Arts Council Gallery
37 Sudden St.
Watsonville, CA

13. More Works

14. More Works

15. More Works