About the Artist
Nancy Selvin works from a light-filled, two-story space in West Berkeley, CA, a studio she had constructed in 2007. Nancy has taught for more than 40 years at colleges and workshops internationally. She received her Master’s degree in ceramics in 1970 from UC Berkeley. While the focus of her art is clay, over the years she has created an impressive body of work in watercolor and collage. Her list of honors includes two fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, and in 2003 she was awarded a fellowship from the California Arts Council. She is the past president and a current Board of Trustees member for the Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts in Newcastle, ME, and serves on the Board of Directors for the American Museum of Ceramic Arts in Pomona, CA. Nancy’s artwork can be viewed on her website at selvinstudios.com.
On the Cover: “Yunomi, Flow Blue”
With my work, whether in clay or on paper, I attempt to capture the ease of the unfinished. —Nancy Selvin
This watercolor refers to a number of ceramic techniques and reflects on the long history of use and tradition in clay. “Yunomi” is a traditional Japanese cylindrical tea bowl often used to serve tea in the home and is distinct from formal, ceremonial tea bowls. The deep blues and visual texture in this image are reflective of the surfaces found on ceramic ware and are designed to instill an inviting and contemplative mood. “Flow blue” is another ceramic term, coined to describe a concentrated, cobalt blue that has bled in the firing process, creating an indistinct, blurry image on the surface of the glazed form. “Yunomi, Flow Blue” invites the viewer to embrace the art of mindfulness and the exquisite elegance that can be found in the ordinary.
Engaging in art, whether through creating or experiencing it, can evoke positive emotions, reduce stress, and improve overall emotional well-being through self-discovery and expression. Art and other mindfulness-based activities can positively influence diabetes management efforts and contribute to a healthier body and mind.
Nancy Selvin is the mother of our esteemed Deputy Editor Liz Selvin.
