A plate doesn’t have to be nondescript. It can be a canvas for a work of art.
That’s the philosophy of Christine Cutting of C3 Studio Art. She is a potter and ceramics artist whose distinctive work includes plates, bowls and other custom creations featured in Fort Myers restaurants Harold’s, at 15250 S. Tamiami Trail, and The Silver King Coastal Kitchen, at 2200 Edwards Drive. She is relatively new to the local pottery business, but her story as an artist stretches back to childhood.
Born in the Philippines, Cutting immigrated with her family as a child. She grew up in the Fort Myers area, excelling both academically and artistically. She eventually became a social worker and teacher but, after time in Gainesville, returned to Fort Myers in 2024 to raise a family with her husband. Focused on raising their four young children, she had set art aside until her husband encouraged her to pick it up again as a hobby.
She took a pottery class at Arts Bonita, and her artistic side bloomed again. She found it a welcome diversion — something that allowed her to truly let go and live in the moment. “It forces you to get dirty and make mistakes and be OK with it,” she says.
She was inspired to work with local chefs after seeing the creativity and effort that went into their meals; her dinnerware, she realized, could serve as a complement. All of her work is influenced by the coastal environment she grew up around. Her pieces often include ripples reminiscent of waves lapping on a beach.
In addition to dinnerware, she is currently creating lighting fixtures. The idea of light and clay in contrast inspired her: polar opposites coming together to create something functional. While the pieces appear practical, each one carries the thought and effort of an artist. “It’s not just a plate or a bowl,” she says. “It’s the whole story that comes with it.”