Editor’s note: This is the seventh in a series of profiles of artists participating in the Slightly West of Spokane Studio Artist Tour set for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 30. Look for more profiles in upcoming editions of the Cheney Free Press.
MEDICAL LAKE — Pottery and a coffee.
That’s what those on the Slightly West of Spokane Studio Artist Tour will fined at Stop No. 2, Roam Coffee.
Amanda Shepard, 25, of Medical Lake, will share Stop No. 2, 116 N. LeFevre St., with artist Nicole Nutt.
While Shepard will be showing off her pottery at Roam Coffee, she has “turned a cozy corner of our home into a fully equipped pottery studio, where I throw, glaze, and fire each piece myself.”
She has lived in Medical Lake with her fiance since 2022.
“This transition not only brought me closer to the person I love, but also allowed me to build a life that revolves around my passion for pottery,” she said. “The process of working with raw clay, shaping it into something functional and beautiful, is something I find deeply fulfilling.”
The slower pace of life here has given Shepard the time to focus on her artwork.
She said she finds inspiration here from nature, the close-knit community and the local lifestyle.
“While pottery has become my main form of artistic expression, I also enjoy working with polymer clay to craft earrings, exploring new textures and forms,” she said. “Before I found my love for clay, I spent years as a watercolor and acrylic painter.
“This background still influences how I approach my designs, looking for simplicity, balance, and elegance in each piece.
For Shepard, working with clay is “meditative,” she said. “I love the tactile experience of molding the clay, guiding it as it takes shape, and watching as each piece evolves through the stages of throwing, glazing and firing.
“Being able to work from home, surrounded by the peacefulness of Washington, has allowed me to fully embrace this creative journey.
“It feels like I’ve found the perfect balance between my life and my art, and I’m excited for what the future holds in this place I now call home.”
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