Thelma Frazier Winter facts for kids

Thelma Frazier Winter (1903–1977) was a talented American artist. She was known for her beautiful enamel art, ceramic sculptures, and paintings. She worked at Cowan Pottery and was part of a group of artists called the Cleveland School.

Thelma's Early Life and Education

Thelma Frazier Winter was born in Gnadenhutten, Ohio. She grew up in New Philadelphia, Ohio. Her mother encouraged her to pursue art.

Studying Art in Cleveland

Thelma went to the Cleveland School of Art. There, she learned drawing, painting, and design from Julius Mihalik. She also studied ceramics with R. Guy Cowan. Cowan introduced her to working with clay. She once said that clay was a "revolutionary idea" to her. She loved how responsive clay was and how it allowed for so much creativity and color. She felt right away that ceramics was her special art form.

Thelma finished her degree in 1929. She then worked for two years at Cowan Pottery. In the early 1930s, she went back to school. She earned a bachelor's degree in art education from Western Reserve University in 1935.

Teaching and Marriage

After college, Thelma taught art. She taught at the Laurel School in Cleveland from 1939 to 1945. Then, she taught at the Cleveland Institute of Art from 1945 to 1950.

In December 1939, she married H. Edward Winter. He was also a well-known artist. They lived for a long time in the University Circle area of Cleveland. Thelma Frazier Winter passed away in 1977. She is buried in Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio.

Thelma's Artistic Creations

Thelma Winter became famous for her colorful ceramic art. She was especially good at using different glazes and colors. Her art often showed stylish human and animal figures. Her style varied from modern art, influenced by movements like Wiener Werkstätte and Cubism, to a more cartoon-like style for some of her animal figures.

Awards and Publications

In 1939, she won a big award. She received first prize for sculpture at the Syracuse Museum of Fine Art’s National Ceramics Exhibition. This was a very important award for artists.

In 1973, Thelma wrote a book called Art and Craft of Ceramic Sculpture. This book helped many new American artists learn about ceramic sculpture. It showed them all the amazing things they could do with clay.

Working with Enamels

In the 1950s, Thelma started working with enamels. Enameling is a process where powdered glass is fused onto metal using high heat. Her husband, H. Edward Winter, was also a famous enamel artist. They worked together and on their own. They created large enamel murals, including eleven for churches. They also made smaller decorative items for homes, like sculptures and trays.

Thelma said that working with enamels was one of the most exciting experiences of her life. She felt she could use everything she had learned from other art forms in her enamel work. This made her enamel art truly unique and personal.

Where to See Her Art

Thelma Winter's art is part of a large collection at the Everson Museum in Syracuse, New York. This museum has a very old and important collection of ceramics. It started in 1916 with art from another famous woman artist, Adelaïde Alsop Robineau. The museum later added works by many respected artists, including Thelma Winter's sculpture called Juggler (from around 1949).