hi !
I’m April Kleven,
The hands and heart behind The Art of April.
I'm a multi-passionate artist.
I enjoy printmaking, watercolors, & painting, but my first and truest love is CLAY.
As a busy mother of five, I shelved working with clay for almost two decades - I couldn’t figure out how to marry motherhood and artistry until I felt like I was starving for creativity after my 5th child was born.
I honestly thought I'd forgotten how to be creative, but my hands craved clay, ink and paint like my tastebuds crave high quality chocolate.
I started experimenting with blockprinting, screenprinting & I signed up for a local pottery class in 2018.
Oh, to have my hands in clay again!!!
It brought me back to life, and it saved my sanity as I navigated the stress of parenting headstrong teens and later the grief of losing my Father in August 2020.
It became apparent to me that giving oneself time & space to pause & create regularly is crucial for emotional well being.
As I've waded through thick PPDA & CPTSD after my daughter was born, I learned that surrounding myself with beautiful, inspiring works of art - both functional art that makes the mundane feel meaningful and decorative art that lifts my spirits is just a crucial for wellness as nutrition, movement & connection!
Which is why I began sharing my art, as well as my creative mindfulness practices - it felt selfish to keep them to myself.
My fluid, intuitive pottery & painting style have evolved into what is known as “Wabi-Sabi” - an intentional embracing of the evidence of having been handmade - allowing my work to be perfectly imperfect - proof that each piece is lovingly hand made by a living, breathing human being.
My hope is that you will feel simultaneously more peaceful & enlivened, more connected & creatively inspired as you incorporate the treasures I create & design into your daily life.
Much love...from my family to yours,
- April Kleven
![The Art of April | Hi I'm April, the artist and founder of the art of april. You can find custom hand made pottery for all occasions. Bowls, ornaments, dishes, plates, cups, mugs, pause buttons, artwork to keep or share.](http://theartofapril.com/cdn/shop/files/AprilPottery_website-133_{width}x.jpg?v=1637432531)