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MEET A FEW PROLIFIC POTTERS AND MAKERS WHO REPRESENT THE CREATIVE ABUNDANCE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY BY MARTHA ZAYTOUN
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON
Belle Fleur Design
Randi Markowitz has been interested in art,
color and texture since she was a child. It’s a passion she carried with her throughout her college years as a graphic design major at Buffalo State University, and then in a series of career moves – from MSNBC to the garment industry – that all revolved around graphic design. In 2007, she founded Belle Fleur Design in Pittsboro. Randi specializes in creating cohesive brands for her clients, from designing their logos and websites to creating business cards, brochures and other branded items. After an initial meeting with her clients and a detailed questionnaire to get a better sense of what they are looking for, she sits down and stares at a blank page. “It’s somewhat intimidating at the beginning. But it’s also very exciting, because you never know what’s going to occur,” Randi says. “So I try to pull out the essence of who my clients are.” She begins with the logo, which Randi believes is the nucleus of all marketing. The process varies with each client, but she usually draws a few sketches by hand before moving to digital tools like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop or InDesign. Once she has created the logo and chosen 96
CHATHAM MAGAZINE
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023
the colors and fonts, Randi develops a style sheet that can be used by all of the vendors involved in creating branded products for her clients, from sign makers to T-shirt manufacturers. One of Randi’s favorite projects was designing the logo for The Sycamore at Chatham Mills. The restaurant takes its name from the sycamore tree that sits on the property, which likewise inspired Randi’s logo design. “It’s very memorable, yet simple,” she says. “Logos do not have to be complicated to be effective.” For Randi, seeing her designs around Chatham County is a satisfying part of her job. “I know how much work went into [the design projects],” she says. “It makes me happy to see them being used.” While she enjoys working with a variety of industries, Randi particularly loves working with restaurants because it allows her to combine her passion for graphic design with her talent for food photography. No matter the client, though, Randi says her favorite part of her job is creating a brand presence that helps a business achieve its goals. “I love living here [and] contributing to the graphic design aesthetic of Chatham County.”
Mark Hewitt Pottery
Mark Hewitt’s father and grandfather were
manufacturers of fine china, an upbringing that nudged him toward making pots by hand while studying in his native England. Following his graduation and the successful completion of an apprenticeship with celebrated English potter Michael Cardew, Mark left his home in England to begin another apprenticeship in Connecticut, where he gained a more nuanced understanding of pottery making. While in the Northeast, Mark met and married his wife, Carol Hewitt, who oversees the administrative side of his business. Mark was drawn to the South for its local clay and the availability of wood to fire his kiln,