Creative Chemistry: The Secrets Behind Couples Who Craft Together

It’s been said that good things come in pairs: mittens, mac and cheese, Burt and Ernie. The same holds true for artist couples who create together. Despite the persistent myth of the loner genius, many artists thrive in collaboration, drawing strength from their shared passions and complementary skills.

“Working together as Ross Pottery has been a natural and easy path for us as artists,” says Meg and Jamie Ross, who operate a studio in the Oakley neighborhood of Asheville. “Since the foundation of our relationship was working together and prioritizing creativity, our energy translated easily to creating Ross Pottery.”

As Valentine’s Day approaches, ArtsvilleUSA uncovers the secrets behind the successful collaborations of Western North Carolina’s most talented artist couples. From folk-inspired pottery to intricate mosaic garden stones, these stories offer valuable insights into the joys and pitfalls of working with your partner. Discover how their partnerships enhance their art and deepen their creative chemistry, transforming challenges into shared achievements.

Jamie + Meg Ross

Ross Pottery

“First came work, then came marriage, then came Ross Pottery,” quip creative duo Meg and Jamie Ross, who met at a coffee shop in the River Arts District in 2019. “We were both exploring our creative paths during that time—when we realized how well we worked together and how much we had in common, we were smitten.”

Five years down the line, Meg and Jamie have become fully immersed in their joint business venture, Ross Pottery. Their charming kitchenware, influenced by traditional folk designs from Hungary, the Netherlands, and early America, exudes warmth and nostalgia, instantly evoking fond memories of “your grandma’s kitchen.”

At work, Meg and Jamie embrace distinct yet complementary roles that enable them to thrive. With her analytical mindset and background in ceramics, Meg manages the business side of the company and creates wheel-thrown and hand-built clay pieces inspired by traditional pottery from North Carolina and the Southeast. Meanwhile, Jamie, an experienced painter with a natural flair for creativity, adds the finishing touches to each piece with the “bright and charming” designs that have become synonymous with their brand. As they put it, “We can focus on the aspects of the craft that we love, then primarily leave it to each partner to thrive in their respective domain,” resulting in a harmonious blend of craftsmanship, functionality, and aesthetic whimsy.

Learn more about Ross Pottery here.

John + Lisa Townsend

MoJo Stained Glass

Bound by their shared love for art and gardening, John and Lisa Townsend began creating original designs in 2008 under the moniker MoJo Stained Glass. The name—a clever portmanteau of “John” and Lisa’s pet name, “Mom”—perfectly embodies the couple’s collaborative approach to creating luminous mobiles and mosaic garden stones.

“We love having a hobby we can enjoy together,” says the husband-and-wife team, who became passionate about stained glass after attending multiple workshops in Alabama. After retiring and relocating to Waynesville, NC, John and Lisa discovered a thriving artist community and ample scenic inspiration in the state’s famed Blue Ridge Mountains. “The beauty of the mountain landscapes, waterfalls, and wildlife has been inspirational to [our] creative “mojo,” say John and Lisa, who recreate the region’s plentiful flora and fauna in their luminous designs.

Lisa leads the design process, creating detailed patterns based on the couple’s mutual input. After the pattern is complete, it’s time to select the glass, a “very enjoyable” process: “There are so many colors and textures!” Next, Lisa cuts the glass while John grinds each piece for a perfect fit. Finally, Lisa solders the window, and John attaches a salvaged frame for a touch of rustic charm. Their teamwork culminates in a “big reveal” when they lift each completed piece to the light: “It’s our WOW moment!”

Their collaborative approach extends beyond the technical aspects of their work. “There are times when I have an idea for a window but lack the full vision on how to include our Mojo whimsy into the piece,” Lisa admits, describing the supportive dynamic that drives their creativity. “John has that special talent to add our signature whimsy flair to our pieces…[his] encouragement and sense of humor gets us through our most difficult projects.”

Learn more about MoJo Stained Glass here.

Melissa Engler + Graeme Priddle

Half Feral Studio

When woodturner Graeme Priddle left his native New Zealand for the mountains of Asheville, he discovered a supportive craft community and his partner, sculptor Melissa Engler. “The culture and landscape [of Asheville] reminds me a lot of where I lived in New Zealand,” says Graeme, who first visited the States in 1996 while attending a woodturning conference. “Fast forward 19 years, and I met a girl who just happened to be living here […] I feel so lucky.”

Both longtime educators, Melissa and Graeme have shared a studio in Asheville’s historic Grove Village since 2015. Over their years at Grovewood Village, the couple, who share a love of woodworking and nature, would collaborate on projects large and small, including their latest venture, The Kitagawa School. Several years ago, after receiving a generous endowment, Graeme and Melissa began thinking seriously about their mission to establish a small craft school whose programming would integrate creativity, craft-making, and sustainable environmental practices.

“Collaboration is hard,” says Melissa, whose background in fine art and furniture overlaps with Graeme’s training as a woodturner. “Ideally, collaboration is something different than either of us would do alone, but it is still cohesive and effective. We have had a few collaborations where we were completely on the same page, but when we are not, we’ve learned to take turns on who has the final say.”

Melissa’s sculptural pieces, painted in bright blue-greens and often assembled from multiple parts, reflect the biodiversity of Western North Carolina’s flora and fauna. Graeme’s work is indebted to the Maori cultural practices of using Earth-based materials and prioritizing connection to land, family, and community. “We are always learning from each other,” says Melissa, adding, “The main thing that unites our work is our wish to honor and share our love for the natural world.”

Learn more about Melissa Engler and Graeme Priddle here.

Georgia Deal + Tom Ashcraft

Working Man Collective

Asheville artist Tom Ashcraft and his wife, printmaker Georgia Deal, maintain separate practices but always “come back together” for shared projects. In fact, that’s how the two first met. Both artists established their careers in Washington, D.C., where Georgia chaired the Corcoran College of Art & Design’s printmaking department for over 30 years. Meanwhile, Tom settled into carpentry and architecture and held a teaching position at the College of Visual and Performing Arts at George Mason University. The two crossed paths multiple times over the years but wouldn’t become creative partners until they formed Dog Dream Project, a collaborative group of Washington artists creating immersive installations. Now married and based in Asheville, NC, Tom and Georgia continue collaborating under Workingman Collective, a group of artists whose membership, goals, and mission change with each project.

“I've worked with everybody from artists and biologists to barbers and architects,” says Tom, who co-founded Workingman Collective in 2005 with Peter Winant and Janis Goodman. The Collective soon gained new members, including Georgia, whose interests often “overlap” with Tom’s. For instance, Tom and Georgia’s recent collaboration, Uncharted, evolved from a shared creative rut triggered by the pandemic. “I was really stuck with making work,” Georgia admits. “We kept talking about what was happening in our individual studio practices, and we came up with this idea of being adrift. We started thinking of ourselves as being adrift at sea.”

Learn more about Georgia Deal and Tom Ashcraft here.

Amy Medford + Leonid Siveriver

It’s been said that two heads are better than one. In Amy Medford and Leonid Siveriver’s shared studio, the old proverb rings especially true. “Between the two of us, we represent an opportunity to view and purchase handmade, one-of-a-kind artworks in multiple mediums,” says Amy, who maintains a separate practice in the studio space she shares with her husband outside their home in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

“We discussed coming to live [in Asheville] at several stages of our lives,” says Amy, who met Leonid at the Johnson Atelier Technical Institute of Sculpture, where the two bonded over their shared love of sculpture and its ability to capture the essence of the human form. The couple relocated to nearby Weaverville in 2014 after visiting and falling in love with the city’s natural beauty and thriving arts community. “[Asheville] is teeming with art galleries, studios, and performance spaces, providing ample opportunities for us to showcase our work and connect with fellow creatives,” says Amy. “We were so fortunate to find property nestled in a beautiful valley surrounded by mountains [...] where we were able to build a studio next to our home. We have had our studio here for more than eight years, and we love it.”

While Amy and Leonid share a common space and both work in sculpture, their work moves in opposite directions. Amy’s figure sculptures are soulful and fluid, like water flowing from the mouth of a river. She makes richly colored jewelry and paints moody portraits on wooden panels with runny acrylic. On the other side of the studio, Leonid creates otherworldly, alienesque sculptures that feel primordial and futuristic simultaneously. His finely rendered figure studies in pencil sharply contrast the oxidized brutalism of his fantastic sculptures.

Learn more about Amy Medford and Leonid Siveriver here.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity. All photos published with permission of the artist(s).