Margaret Hudson

Margaret L. Hudson
[ Lynn Lais ] [ Judith Nafziger ] [ Joseph Troncale ] [ Jewell Gross Brenneman ] [ Jane Graber ] [ Dick Lehman ] [ Royce Yoder ] [ Tim Martin ] [ Margaret Hudson ] [ Marie Harnish ] [ Ned Foltz ] [ Marvin Bartel ]

The whimsical clay sculptures of Margaret Hudson speak of love for the earth and its creatures. Working in a rich brown clay, she and her staff create the birds, animals, and wildflowers native to her Central California home and the nearby Sierra Nevada.

In 1971, with a sick husband and four young sons to support, Margaret launched this midlife adventure by selling her work at crafts fairs and from her back yard studio.

By 1980 Earth Arts Studio was established. Facilities include a rustic showroom and work area where customers can watch expert artisans hand-form the clay.

Over 200 designs, including planters, fountains, and large garden sculptures, are all fired to a sturdy stoneware for indoor or outdoor use. Margaret exhibits her one-of-a-kind sculptures in local and national juried shows and has installed many works of public art. Each year she hosts hundreds of school children in her back yard studio and sculpture garden.

Your stoneware animal may need special attention from time to time, for maximum enjoyment.
    1.    Animals placed outside in a warm dry climate need no special treatment.
    2.    Animals in a salt air climate will hold their earthly brown color permanently if they are surface treated once a year with a good watersealer such as Thompson or Chemstop which can be bought at a local paint or hardware store.
    3.    Animals living outside in severe winter climate (freezing or below) must not be allowed to collect water in the interior where it may stand and freeze. Also, brush on a good watersealer twice a year.
    4.     In a wet damp climate brush on watersealer twice a year.

Sprinkles and rain will leave surfaces coated with a white film if not watersealed. If this has already happened a mixture of seven parts water and one part swimming pool acid will remove almost all of it. (Caution: Always add acid to water.)

If your animal happens to break we have found that five minute epoxy works best.

If your animal has a place for a pot, feel free to plant directly into it.

In your house the animal doesn’t need any special attention except a shower when it gets dusty.