Lee Bell 281-904-4113
829 Ponderosa Pine Lane
Sarasota, FL 34243
www.blacklilystudio.com
EDUCATION
Master of Fine Arts, Ceramics May '94
University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Amherst, MA
Antonio Cirino Memorial Scholarship Fund: Two consecutive years of $5000.00 awards. An annual award
based on slides and a written submission of intent. Three years teaching undergraduate courses in hand
building, wheel throwing and two dimensional design for the foundations program.
BFA - Bachelor of Fine Arts, Ceramics May '91
Maine College of Art, Portland, ME
Frog Hollow Gallery in Vermont show, full time student, full time job. Making clay and glazes, slips,
electric, raku and gas high firing kilns. Internship with production potter in Kennebunkport, Me
EXPERIENCE
Teacher / Studio Artist 2015- present
Sarasota , FL
Part time teaching , full time studio.
Showing at Vincent Williams Gallery, Honey Bee Festival, commissions, Vida co. silk designs for clothing. Exploring more in process for technique of relief printing from raised line drawings on fabric. Printing into clay with original design and using this process to make larger clay collage / image prints on functional and sculptural ceramic works for mishima and scraffitto techniques. Digital photography and editing skills being increased through expanding on personal web site and learning how to meet the varying requirements for additional websites that are showcasing my work.
Studio Artist 2010 -2015
Houston,TX
Developed web site, considerable time devoted to increasing digital photography skills and learning new computer skills. Hand building, wheel throwing, electric kiln firing and glaze, slip making, some
mold making and slip casting. Material and studio equipment set up, photographing work and writing,
shipping and sales financial documentation. Several gallery showings in Houston including Hanson
Galleries, 18 Hands and Archway Gallery. Best of show award "Spotlight on Clay".
Art Teacher 2007-2009
Pearland, TX
Development and implementation of art program for 36 mentally and physically disabled adults in a day
school setting. Creating lesson plans for a wide range of student capabilities; adaptations for physical and
mental challenges. Ordering of materials, lesson planning, teaching and demonstrating techniques for
clients. Projects in multiple media including painting, pattern making, collage, mosaics and hand building
ceramics. Academic duties also included task training for daily living skills, basic math, reading
comprehension and computer skills, writing weekly progress reports and preparing a monthly calendar of
activities with a co-worker.
Sarasota County School Board 1998-2006
High school and middle school art classes
Freelance painting murals, faux finishes and sculpture
Numerous large scale murals and faux finishes in Sarasota in public and private settings, including The
Community School- formerly Kanner Academy, several of the Siesta Key condominium complexes and
one local eating establishment. Large figurative sculpture and ceramic work sales in the US and
Switzerland. I was a long term replacement at Booker High School in the ceramics dept and regularly
taught art at Brookside Middle School at this time.
The Community School , Kanner Academy 1999-2004
Art Teacher
Teaching art with troubled youth ages from middle school to early twenties in a private alternative program. Lesson planning, ordering materials and art program development.
Towles Court Art Colony-Gallery Owner 1996-1999
Xcentrics, Clayworks, Sarasota, FL
During this time I lived in and taught ceramics at the Towles Court Art Colony as one of the original artists
to live and maintain a gallery in that community. Ceramics courses offered in my gallery included hand
building, pit firing, electric kiln firing, glaze making and slip making, cold finish techniques for beginner to
advanced adult students ranging in age from 20 -65. Marketing my work and monthly gallery openings,
commissions for both painting and ceramics. I also received the honor of being chosen as an emerging
artist by the Rosen Group and was awarded show space at The Buyers Market of American Craft in
Philadelphia; was honored to receive the recognition of the state of Florida with an honorable mention for the
Florida State Individual Artist Grant competition and received an award from the Boca Raton chapter of
The National Society of Arts and Letters. Virginia Haley, Director of The Sarasota Visitors Bureau invited me to
create artwork for “Sea cows by the Sea” a proposal for public art.
Salt Creek Artworks
Artist
St. Petersburg FL
Artist in this co –op showing locally and in exposition venues in Dallas, Atlanta and Florida
May '94 - Jul '95
Ceramics Teacher
Gulf Coast Art Center, Largo, FL
Ceramic hand building courses, basic glazing techniques, electric kiln loading and firing for adult
students. Emphasis on surface design using paper stencils, stamps, wax resist techniques, layered slips
and glazes.
Jun '94 - Aug '94
Ceramics Teacher
Clearwater Parks and Recreation, Clearwater, FL
Glaze mixing, lesson planning, wheel throwing, hand building, studio maintenance for variety of age
groups and skill levels.
Galleries, Exhibitions
Sarasota Honey Festival, Sarasota , FL
Vincent Williams Gallery St. Petersburg Beach , FL
St. Armand's Gallery St Armand's Circle, FL
Hanson Gallery, Houston TX -Best of Show "Spotlight on Clay" American Craft exhibition
Archway Gallery, Houston TX juried exhibition
18 Hands Gallery Houston,TX "Illuminations" juried exhibition
The Great Frame Up League City, TX
Clear Lake Arts Alliance, Clear Lake TX juried exhibition
Mary's Art and Frame Kemah, TX
Paradise City Show, Fort Lauderdale,FL juried exhibition
Metro One Gallery, Ephraim,WI
Art and Soul Gallery Sarasota FL
Minds Eye Gallery Michigan
Florida Craftsman Gallery St. Petersburg,FL
Crafts National 31 Zoller Gallery Philadelphia, PA juried exhibition
Mayfair By The Lake Lakeland FL juried exhibition
Key West Style Gallery Gulfport FL
Craft Art Tampa, FL juried exhibition
Kathleen Carrillo Gallery Towles Court Artist Colony - solo exhibition Sarasota,FL
Hope Gallery Atlanta, GA
Iota Gallery Dallas,TX
Home Accents Boutique Clearwater, FL
Margaret Skaggs Gallery St Petersburg,FL
River Place South Carolina juried exhibit
Westchester College New York "Shrines as Contemporary Art Forms"
traveling slide lecture series
Herter Art Gallery Amherst Mass. Thesis exhibition
Awards, Grants and Publications
"Spotlight on Clay" American Craft exhibition Hanson Gallery Houston TX Best of show
Rosen Buyers Market of American Craft Philadelphia Pa Emerging Artist Award
Florida Individual Artist state grant competition Honorable Mention
Sea Cows by the Sea Sarasota Herald Tribune
Antonio Cirino Memorial Fellowship Fund Two consecutive years grants
Sarasota Herald Tribune 2000
Niche Magazine Spring Issue 1999
Eclipse Magazine 1999
Sarasota Herald Tribune 1996
St..Petersburg Times 1995