The Dictionary of American Studio Ceramics, 1946 Onward
The Dictionary of American Studio Ceramics, 1946 Onward
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Sara Swink
EDUCATION
2004-2005 Graduate Study, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California
2002-2004 Post Baccalaureate Study, San Jose State University, San Jose, California
2001 BA Humanities, New College of California, San Francisco, California
2000 Study in Japan
1997-2002 Foothill College, UC Santa Cruz Extension, Santa Cruz, California
PRIMARY WORK EXPERIENCE
1977-2000 Massage Therapist
2000-2006 Graphic Designer
2000—Teacher, workshops: Creative Process Methodology
2006—Ceramic Artist
Sara Swink is known for hand-built small-scaled, colorful anthropomorphic stoneware animal figures. These sculptures are narrative in nature, with a folk art quality. Swink works with a gritty clay body to form the figures which are finished with surface treatments including incising, oxides, brushed underglazes, and glazes.
Swink grew up in San Francisco where she was influenced by the San Francisco Funk Movement thriving at the time. Her mentor and teacher Coeleen Kiebert was also a strong influence.
Bibliography
Coldiron, Cynthia. Contemporary Wildlife Art. Atglen PA: Schiffer Publishing Ltd., 2015.
Coleman, Peter. “The Artistic Life of Sara Swink.” Filmed 2005. YouTube video, 7:13. Posted [April 2007]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPM6KzfYnPA&t=305s.
Drake, Carolyn Hazel. “The Stories Within.” American Craft Magazine (December-January 2012).
Freeman-Zachary, Rice. “Sara Swink: Doll Artist Profile.” Art Doll Magazine (Autumn 2015).
Irvine, Alex. Ceramic Sculpture: Making Faces: A Guide to Modeling the Head and Face with Clay. New York, NY: Lark Crafts, 2014.
Martin, Brigitte. Humor in Craft. Atglen PA: Schiffer Publishing Ltd., 2012.
Oregon Art Beat. “Ceramic Artist: Sara Swink.” Filmed [Oct. 2013]. Video, 7:38. Posted [Oct. 2013.] https://www.opb.org/television/programs/artbeat/segment/ceramic-artist-sara-swink/.
Smith, Nan. 500 Figures in Clay, v.2. New York, NY: Lark Books, 2014.
Swink, Sara. “Making a Wally.” Filmed [Sept. 2017]. YouTube video 1:34. Posted [Sept. 2017 file://localhost/%5D. https/::www.youtube.com:watch%3Fv=iBsM5xZxrE4&t=4s.
Tietge, Bryan. “PDX Arts Journalism Sara Swink.” Filmed [Oct. 2013]. YouTube video, 7:38. Posted [Oct. 2013]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWPq_DiTtOc&t=1s.
Website(s):
Artist's Studio: Clay Circle Studio
Last name in script, scratched through a layer of slip to reveal the color beneath.
Citation: McGee, Donna. "The Marks Project." Last modified November 2, 2019. http://www.themarksproject.org/marks/swink