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WATSONTOWN — Rise and Design Art Studio, a new and private pottery space business, is the culmination of owner Sabrina Shankar’s life-long interest in the creative fine arts.

Growing up on Long Island, N.Y., she began working with pottery when she was 10 years old, creating animal sculptures, tea kettles, and pinch pots. Her early artistic bent led her to Savannah (Ga.) College of Art and Design.

After earning degrees, Shankar was hired by Bucknell University, where for the past six years, she ran the operation of a studio-maker space at one of the university’s fine arts studios, teaching students about the joy of clay and other studio materials. Students could come and work on personal projects or academic projects.

“In September of this year I decided to transition full time to my own business,” she explained.

Shankar had been selling self-made art objects at craft fairs in the region for about two-and-a-half years. When she was able to use a pottery wheel, “that spurred me to get into ceramics more. I started making a lot of pieces and selling in local boutique shops in Central Pa. I got to the point where I was ready to do this full time.”

She was able to acquire casting equipment and molds.” Casting allows for mass producing pottery and other ceramic pieces of art.

The idea for the studio was to have a space where she could conduct adult and kids classes. “The studio would thus be more than just me doing one-of-a-kind pieces,” she said.

“I’d like to bring the community together with these classes.”

Shankar is the sole owner of the business.

Right now, it is a home studio in Watsontown, but for her pottery classes she has been going to local organizations, such as Riverwoods, where she conducts classes once a month for the seniors. She also attends children’s camps. “I’m presenting fun, stress-free activities,” she said. “I’m hoping in the New Year to do more classes at different venues in the area. And also to do birthday parties.”

There are two sides to the business: the one-of-a-kind pieces for sale, or work for commission fees. A business might want her to make custom mugs for an event. The second side of her business is her pottery class experience, where she brings the pieces to an event where a class or group might paint the piece.

For more information, go online to: riseanddesignartstudio.com. She is also on facebook and Instagram, under her name.

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