Gary G. Graham
A Natural Touch to an Age Old Craft
The Zanesville Appalachian Arts Project (ZAAP) celebrates Gary Graham as their Artist of the Month for April. A quiet, humble
man, Gary can be always be found with a smile on his face and a glint in his eye. His work brings a surprising burst of life to
each piece of pottery he paints - from the rich dazzle of color in his floral work to the sense that the birds he paints will
take flight at any moment. His keen eye captures the unexpected and his brush immortalizes his subject in each stroke.
Gary states his greatest inspiration for exploring painting was the late Leslie Cope who captured the everyday into moments
saved forever. From his days in the antique business, Gary was intrigued by the slip glaze process - so the marriage of paint
and pottery began. Gary now experiments with 3-D slip glaze designing and has even purchased his own kilns so he can complete
the glazing process himself.
Rarely idle, this Master Gardener (among his many hobbies and talents) can be found tending his many gardens and nurturing
is woodland area which includes a pond. It is in this place that many of 
his designs begin - from the ever changing fauna
to the feathered friends who visit his bird feeders, Gary sketches away. This award winning artist is now branching out to
works on canvas with his most recent inspirations being the Amish Farms in Holmes County as well as Carolina seascapes.
Diane Carter, ZAAP director enthusiastically adds, "I am so glad to see an artist like Gary continuing to work in an area that
is a part of our local heritage. His eye for detail and love of nature are delightful to see in his art."
Gary says of his craft "My work is considered fine art and my last piece is always my favorite." He says he knows when a
work is finished when it comes out of the kiln and says "Hold me" or "I'm alive - put me on the wall". When asked if he had
to choose which pottery piece was his favorite, he responds "I would say the red-bellied woodpecker I sold to a lady from
Columbus, Ohio was my favorite bird on pottery." He joyfully states "I am totally retired, enjoying my work and hoping to
leave a spot in this community that will tell future generations that I was here."
Gary and his work are featured in the ZAAP Gallery for the month of April. The gallery is located at 625 Main Street in
downtown Zanesville. Gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday from 1 - 5 pm. Come celebrate the 1st Friday Gallery Hop
and enjoy an evening of the arts in Zanesville.
