OTHELLO — Potter and clay sculptor Betty Johansen, of Othello, is the Artist of the Month for January and February at the Old Hotel Art Gallery, on East Larch Street, in Othello.

Johansen’s interest in clay as an artistic medium dates to a class she took at the Old Hotel in 1977.

“In that class, I made two pots on the wheel, and bought a wheel and basically taught myself,” she said.

After teaching herself, she started teaching others, she said. The Old Hotel has long been a center for art and crafts classes, and Johansen taught pottery classes for children for many years in the 1980s and 1990s. She’s also taught night classes at Big Bend Community College for about 25 years, she said.

About 10 years ago, she added classes for adults.

“I love clay, and I love sharing my artwork with other people. But I also really love the teaching aspect,” she said.

The teaching schedule allowed her some flexibility.

“To begin with, it was a way for me to start a business and still be a stay-at-home mom,” she said.

The Old Hotel show includes what Johansen called “functional pottery,” pieces like cookie jars and honey containers, batter bowls and dessert plates, among other items. There are some clay flowers in the show as well.

In addition to art made on the wheel, Johansen sculpts tiles and other works. Her work is on display in the office at Wahitis Elementary School, where she made the tile depiction of the school’s hawk mascot.

“I really like working on the wheel, but in the last eight or 10 years I started doing hand building, and I really enjoy that,” Johansen said.

She fits her art and teaching schedule around her job with the Othello School District, where she’s worked since 2006, she said.

That means her schedule has changed, as she works on art mostly on weekends, and during the summer when school is out. She tries to focus on two shows, an outdoor show in Richland in July, and another outdoor show in Boise, Idaho in September, she said.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached at [email protected].