Functional Pottery

Salt Glaze & Stoneware

Pottery Classes and Workshops

Studio Showroom Open Tues – Sat

My pots are made to be used — to enhance the rituals of preparing and eating food, to hold flowers, to light a corner for reading. Making functional work connects me to the age-old tradition of artist craftsmen who make beautiful objects for daily use.

I‘ve been potting since 1969, yet after all these years, I still enjoy every aspect of making pottery, especially throwing and firing.  The alchemy of transforming soft clay into finished pots continues to excite and inspire me.

I offer classes and workshops in my studio, and I also teach at conferences and craft schools.  I had some wonderful teachers when I was first learning to pot, and teaching allows me to pass the favor on.  Drop me a line if you want to know my current teaching schedule.

People have expressed interest in the Throwing Intensive here scheduled for May 24-27, but said that they could not make it for all four days.  As there are still some open spots and time is drawing short, I have decided to open the workshop to three-day or even two-day participants.  So if you would like to come, but can’t make it to the full event, please drop me a note or give me a call.  And I would appreciate your help spreading the word about these new options.  Thanks!

My new DVD on Glazing and Decorating came out today on Ceramic Arts Daily.  They included a clip from it, and directions on purchasing it through the CAD Bookstore.  I also have it for sale in my online store, although at the moment it is for “pre-sale” and I am not exactly sure when I will have them in my hand to mail to you.

The DVD covers a number of aspects of glazing and decorating.  Topics include multiple basic ways to get glaze onto pots, using wax and paper resists, block printing with a variety of materials, and decorating on leather-hard work.  I talk about how to choose and place glazes to maximize a pot’s best features (the Lands End bathing suit approach…).  We looked at a number of pots we have collected over the years that exemplify design techniques.  There are also appendices on  mixing glazes and on brief look at glaze chemistry.   It was an ambitious project and I am excited it is finally out in the world after an extended gestation period!

from Glazing and Decorating Pottery DVD

Look at the nice work my students are producing!  This is the first of two firings of their work from our ten-week session.  I’m firing the second half right now and will put up some photos of it after we unload this weekend.  (Thanks Ann for taking these snaps!)

We had a great time at NCECA in Seattle.  I enjoyed the chance to reconnect with Wally and Mad Keeler and had a lot of fun working in the AMACO/Brent booth.  My only regret about the conference was having so little time with ClayArt and Potters Council friends.

The reduction kiln is cooling today, full of student work.  I’m planning to unload and reload it with the rest of their work soon.  We had a productive ten weeks of classes!  I will post some photos of their work here next week.

Junko Ono Rothwell and I will show her paintings and my pots together at The Academy of Fine Arts in Lynchburg, Virginia. It’s been a while since our last joint show and I am looking forward to seeing Junko’s newest paintings.  Our show will be up throughout June, with the opening reception on Friday, June 1.

Then at the end of June,  Nancy Maxson and I will hold a Studio Open House here in my Nelson County, Virginia studio on June 30 & July 1. Nancy will show paintings, and I am hoping the timing will work to include a kiln opening of my newest work.

Carter and I unloaded the salt kiln yesterday.  Good firing, although the temp at the back of the kiln lagged behind more than usual, so a few pots will need to be refired.  Here are some photos.  Some of them are truncated in this view, but if you click on an image, you can see the full thing.

We had a great workshop last week, with attendees coming from Ohio, New York, and North Carolina.  Kevin Crowe and I collaborated on it, with folks spending three days in my studio and then three in his.  We’ve a repeat on the pattern scheduled for August of this year and since everyone liked the format, I am sure we will repeat it next year.

Carter and I fired the salt kiln yesterday.  Tonight was the final Monday class of this session; Wednesday classes finish this week too.  Then we get to unload the salt kiln and get ready for a ten day jaunt to the Pacific Northwest.  I’ll be at NCECA for a few days – drop by to see me Thursday morning or Friday afternoon, when I will be demonstrating in the AMACO booth.  I’m most excited by the opportunity to see Wally Keeler , who will be a featured artist this year.  Wally, who taught at Harrow when I was first learning to make pots, has been a life-long role model for me as the kind of teacher I hope to be.  Then after NCECA we’ll be traveling to British Columbia and the Olympic Peninsula.

I’ll post photos from the salt firing here later this week.

Classes start next week, so I’ve spent the past several days deconstructing the expanded showroom, reinstalling the classroom, and rearranging displays.  Today I took photos on my new iphone and posted them to the Pots In My Showroom page of this website.  A sharp learning curve!  But after a struggle, the page is now reset.  That means that next time I get in the studio I will get to play with clay again!

If you can’t get by the studio but would like to purchase a pot, take a look at that page and then drop me a line or give me a call.  Happy New Year!

Read the rest of this entry »

Couples choose work from my showroom and list it in a registry on this site.   If you would like me to set up a page with you, please get in touch!  The following sample registry was posted last fall: Read the rest of this entry »

Two nice things to report:

First, we had a great turnout for the Studio Tour this past weekend.

Second, an image of one of my big salt pots will be featured in this 2012 Potters Council Calendar – the Alternative Firings version.  (Check out September…)

While I was at the Potters Council Conference at AMACO/Brent in Indianapolis, we shot a short video.  It came out yesterday on Ceramic Arts Daily.  Take a look!