Working as an interior designer and as a professional faux finish painter, Langlois said she has always drawn inspiration for her pottery based on how it would look in certain settings.
“Interior design is like the thread that runs through everything,” Langlois said. “I’m always thinking of current trends, [but] I’m not doing the same thing that’s already out there.”
Faux finish painting, which replaces the look of marble, wood or stone surfaces, was a business Langlois had in The Woodlands area for 25 years, she said.
Now, the Woodlands Art League member maintains a full-time job handcrafting various clay pottery items in her home studio in the Klein area.
“I am always connected to what the current color [is], what kind of style is happening—like the farmhouse industrial kind of look or the crisp, lots of white look,” Langlois said.
Two popular series of items Langlois creates are heart rattles and olive oil bottles, she said. When she makes these, Langlois prefers to build them by hand rather than throwing the clay onto a potter’s wheel, making her work look more whimsical.
“I’m really drawn to hand-building because I think it’s a little more unlimited,” Langlois said.
The heart rattles have been such popular sellers among Langlois’ customers that she has begun looking into companies that would be interested in wholesaling the items.
“People like them,” Langlois said. “They’re easily accessible [and] they mean everything—friendship, love, connection.”
One goal of Langlois' is to have a booth at next year’s Waterway Arts Festival in The Woodlands, she said.
“Between my own work and the shows I’ve decided to take on for the last year, I’ve kind of focused on seeing what it was like to just dive into going to art shows,” Langlois said. “That’s kind of propelled me to make more work and stay focused on creating things.”
Where to find work by Doni Langlois
Sculptor Doni Langlois frequents the First Saturday Art Market in The Heights and has her work on display at Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Church.
- First Saturday Art Market
540 W. 19th St., Houston
832-273-4798
www.firstsaturdayartsmarket.com
September-May: 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
June-August: 6-10 p.m. - White Linen Night in The Heights
200-300 W. 19th St., Houston
www.theheightswhitelinennight.com
Date and time TBD - Avant Garden Art Gallery at Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Church
1370 N. Millbend Drive
The Woodlands
281-298-2780
www.northwoodsuu.org
