Donna Muiex

Let's Play in Clay

     My name is Donna Marie Mieux.  After childhood experiences with clay-like material, my first attempt at sculpturing clay was in high school.  The instructor asked our class to write an essay about a war we’d studied and to create an art piece that would depict something related to the war we had selected.  I chose to sculpt a face depicting death.  I entitled the piece, “Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust”.  My instructor congratulated me on the essay but he especially liked the art piece.  From that point on, I loved working with clay and mixed media to enhance my pieces.

     Though my art adventures were not my major or minor at the university I attended, I continued to self-teach.  After graduation I worked briefly with a wonderful teacher in Padua Hills, California.  I created two major works in her studio:  “Three Dolphins” and “Mother and Child”.  The next several years were filled with studying for advance degrees and raising a family with my husband and two children.

     Currently, I am a retired educator from the Hacienda La Puente U.S.D., as a District Program Specialist.  I have also worked as a mentor to graduate students at Azusa Pacific University.  I have been very fortunate to become a member of the Pomona Valley Art Association.  You can find some of my work at  the Gallery Soho located at, 317 West First Street in Claremont, California.

     I am particularly interested in sculpturing various nationalities, ethnic groups, human facial expressions, and displaying experiences of human beings of all ages.I  am also becoming interested in animals, wire working and jewelry making.  My ceramic pieces often give a folk art, rustic or earthy feel to them.  Sometimes, other media such as wire-wrapping, dried flowers, feathers or a variety of jewelry pieces may be used to enhance a project.

     In addition to my ceramic and mixed media work, I am displaying some handmade jewelry pieces at the Gallery Soho.  These works include copper wire patterns used to make bracelets, necklaces, rings, pendants, and earrings.  Silver and gold colored jewelry are also featured.

     Please join me and the other artists at our gallery and view a rich display of various types of art work.  We would love to meet you or spend a Friday afternoon playing in clay!