Betsy Brown: Guild's featured artist fell in love during her first wheel-throwing class

COSHOCTON − Betsy Brown is the April artist of the month for the Coshocton Art Guild.

Brown creates ceramics via wheel throwing and hand building, using primarily stoneware. Her pottery-making journey started in September 2020 with Markgraf Clayworks in Newark.

"I fell in love with the art when I began my first wheel-throwing class. I just loved creating and enjoyed that it was so relaxing. This was during the pandemic, so the therapeutic part of making art was especially welcome at that time," Brown said. "My ceramic teachers were Karen and Tom Markgraf, who not only taught but inspired me to try new techniques and ideas."

Brown and her husband, Jim, operate Classic Auto Supply Company, which makes parts for Ford Thunderbirds made from 1955 to 1957. They manufacture parts and ship to hobbyists all over the world.

Brown serves on multiple local boards and enjoys volunteering in the community with organizations like The Coshocton Art Guild, Coshocton Rotary and Coshocton In Bloom. She's also an active member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

"I would like to see more people in our community find the art form that makes them happy because I think that creating art is a great way to decrease stress and anxiety, which seems to be more prevalent in today’s society than ever before," Brown said.

The Tollhouse Art and Gift Shop in Roscoe Village carries a large variety of her pieces including mugs, bowls, serving plates, lidded jars, trinket dishes, flower frogs, tiny animals, miniature buildings, piggy banks and more. The Tollhouse at 408 N. Whitewomen St. is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday to Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. One can also see Brown's work on Instagram at BBPlaysInMud.

Additionally, the art guild is having an open microphone night Monday at Rust Décor,341 Main St. Registration starts at 4:45 p.m. Food is available by donation. Local singers, songwriters, musicians, poets, comedians and other performers may do up to three songs or 15 minutes worth of material.

Jenni Parsons is a member of the Coshocton Art Guild.

This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: Betsy Brown is the featured artist for Coshocton Art Guild