Shelly Mathiot

Shelley Mathiot lives with her husband, Chris, in New Bern, North Carolina. Her education as an artist is entirely from life, books, workshops, and classes. In college, she had an eye towards a career in journalism but chose motherhood and home-schooling her four children instead.

She and Chris, who paints in acrylics and oils, owned an art supply store together, hosting many workshops and classes for drawing, painting, pottery, and more. Her training in clay began there, learning from other potters. “Everyone’s journey is different, and the traditional sharing of skills from one craftsman to another is now part of my story.”

Now Shelley and Chris run Bear Hands Art Factory, a private teaching and production studio. Shelley offers private and small group lessons, and works on orders for her galleries and wholesale. Chris paints in acrylics, keeps the machinery and kilns running, and also assists in production. Shelley and Chris have four grown children and two grandchildren, all amazingly talented and beautiful, of course!