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.

Nancy Maxson and I will hold our Spring Open House here at the Pottery on Memorial Day Weekend. Nancy’s display will feature her cards and paintings, plus newly republished copies of her book.  Mine will feature work from my most recent firings.  The show is free and open to the public.

Saturday, May 25
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Sunday, May 26
12:00 noon to 4:00 pm

In addition to our latest work, we’ll have older pieces from the archives in our “Scratch & Dent” sales corner.  Please come by and tell your friends and relations about the show.  Our 2012 show was taken out by the derecho (remember the derecho last year?)  So we’re hoping for calm sunny weather this time around.

Three workshops between now and the end of June.

First, The Kiln Doctor is hosting a day-long throwing demo on May 11 at their store in Front Royal. I’ll be throwing functional pots, texturing with wiggle-wires, altering thrown forms, and etc.  There are details about the workshop here.

On June 15, the Potters Guild of Frederick, Maryland is hosting a similar event.  Here’s a link to their flier — 1Nan Rothwell Poster.  They are opening it to Guild members and others.

And finally, Kevin Crowe and I are offering a week-long joint workshop here in Nelson County, Virginia at the end of June.   Participants will spend three days in my studio (June 20-22) and then three at Tye River Pottery.  Kevin’s section of the workshop is full (he can only take four people at a time) but there are still some spots open in my part.  For details, look at the workshop page of this website.

I’m looking forward to the three-day workshop here June 20 – 22, offered in conjunction with Kevin Crowe.  Participants will work here for three days, take a day off to enjoy Nelson County, and then work three days with Kevin at Tye River Pottery.  There are further details about it on the Workshop Page.

Unloaded a kiln this morning that had some lovely carbon trap shino — my favorite stoneware glaze.  It’s unreliable –  gorgeous grey/black at its best and bubble-gum pink and ordinary at other times.  But today’s firing was a winner.

Love that carbon trap!

Other side of the kiln

Ann took these photos of our most recent firing of student work.  Even after all these years, I still marvel at the transformation from powdery pinks and tans to vibrant colors.  Kiln openings are always like Christmas Morning.

Mostly student pots

Same pots – after being fired to cone ten in reduction

It’s been a while since I remembered to post here.  Our first ten-week session of classes is almost over.  People are glazing work and I hope to load the first kiln of student pots by week’s end.  Had a great week at John Campbell Folk School!  Kim Maxwell came to help teach the class, which was lucky as there were eleven students at different levels of experience.  She was able to hand-build with some people who didn’t want to work on the wheel, while I focused on the throwers.  I love John Campbell Folk School!!!

It’s finally getting warmer here.  The early daffodils are blooming, the field is greening up, and this morning’s heron census counted either eight confirmed, and perhaps a ninth at the rookery.

There are several workhops coming up soon.  A four-day one in early April, a one-day demo only one on April 27th, and then another joint workshop with Kevin Crowe in June — all slated for my studio here.  In addition, I will be doing demos at The Kiln Doctor in Front Royal, Virginia and for the Potters Guild of Frederick, Maryland.  Details to follow…

As always, I appreciate your help spreading the word about workshops!

There were so many gaps and switches after the past few shows that I took all new photos of the work in my showroom and posted them just now on the Pots In My Showroom.  Visitors are welcome daily through the end of December.  Or you can take a look online and I can ship your choices to you.
Here are a couple of photos, posted just to whet your interest.

The hutch visitors see when they enter the studio.

A table in the showroom

Had a good time last weekend in Floyd County, VA at the 16 Hands Studio Tour.  I felt honored to be part of that group of fine potters!  Now I am getting ready for a small show this weekend at Rockfish Valley Community Center with my old friend K Robins.  You can see examples of K’s imaginative symbolic jewelry on her website.  We’ll be there from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm on Saturday, December 1.  K’s studio is on the left  as you face the stage at RVCC.

The Artisans Studio Tour was great fun.  Lots of nice people through, excellent weather. That Tour seems to get stronger every year!

Next on the show schedule is 16 Hands in Floyd County, Virginia next week. I’ll be showing with Rick Hensley & Donna Polseno in their studio.  The show runs November 23-25 — 10 am – 5 pm on Friday and Saturday and 12 – 5 pm on Sunday.

Then my fall show schedule finishes with the Holiday Show at McGuffey Art Center in Charlottesville, Virginia.  The show runs November 20 – December 30, with the Opening Reception on Friday, December 7.

With extensive help from friends, I’ve spent much of this week reconfiguring classroom space into an expanded showroom that will be up during all of November and December.  This coming weekend, we’ll take part in the Artisans Studio Tour on November 10 & 11. Penny Sipple will join me with her leather bags and some of my pottery students will demonstrate throwing and hand-building. We’ll be here Saturday and Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm. Our friends at Basic Necessities will provide finger food, plus we’ll have homemade goodies. Mine is one of twenty studios in this 18th Annual Tour, which will showcase work by thirty-six artisans.

If you can’t make it by this weekend, you can see images of the expanded showroom and do some cyber shopping at the Pots In My Studio page.  I’ll be happy to send you dimensions and prices on anything you see in that cyber-gallery, as well as to ship your purchases.

Unloaded another stoneware firing.  This one included the rest of my 2012 work plus some student pots. Next firing will be all student work.  Photos below: