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Porcelain artist transforms plain china into art

Ruth Widener, 98, shares her talents with students eager to learn the art of china painting

KNOXVILLE, Tenn — Her age is just a number. Ruth Widener has the energy and attitude of someone decades younger. 

"I may be 97, almost 98, but I've still got work to be done," she said. 

The work Ruth Widener still has to do is painting china. It's painted in stages, firing the china in a kiln after each paint application.

"I love it. And I love the people I'm with."

The soon-to-be 98 year old was always an artist. Then years ago, in her 50s, she signed up for a furniture refinishing class at the YMCA but not enough people showed up. The teacher sent her to a porcelain art class instead. 

 She's been painting ever since.

Credit: WBIR
Creating porcelain art requires sharp eyes and steady hands

Ruth and her husband worked for decades at Dollywood, showing and selling painted porcelain. 

She has studied with artists all over the world. Now she shares her knowledge with students in their 70s. A couple times a week, she teaches classes in her studio at her house in West Knoxville. 

"I don't try to fill them up anymore. But I've had as many as eight or nine in this room painting and then there would be more in the back room painting," she said.  "These two rooms could not hold all the china I've painted in my lifetime."

Credit: WBIR
Painted china plates at the home of Ruth Widener

The front room showcases china along a ledge near the ceiling. The back room features shelves full of finished pieces. She'll take some to shows and give away some more. 

She and her students have painted more than 400 mugs then donated them to breast cancer patients. 

Credit: WBIR
Ruth Widener and her students have donated 400 mugs to breast cancer patients

"They can give a mug to each person who has had surgery. And we've been nice enough to get two or three letters back saying what it meant to the person," she said. 

Though she loves the process of painting porcelain and transforming plain china into beautiful works of art, what she enjoys the most is the people. 

"We just feel like family. When you meet somebody who is a china painter, you have met a friend. And they usually stay that way," she said.

If you would like to sign up for one of her porcelain art classes then email tmwampler2065@charter.net

Ruth is preparing pieces to take to Manchester next month for the Tennessee Porcelain Show. 

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