Meet the person behind the pottery

A few years after I retired, my life went to pot, Pottery that is.

In January 2025, I took a pottery class and was totally hooked from the first class.

Was I hooked because I was immediately successful? Absolutely not. My first few items were minimally functional, but not successful. By my second class, I managed to make three lopsided, abbreviated, and way too thick little bowls.

However, I found it to be very calming, at least until the clay flew off the wheel or contorted into a twisted, unmanageable form. Even then, there was a calmness. Pottery teaches patience. It teaches humility. It teaches me to be centered and calm.

Very soon, I set up a home studio on my patio and began handbuilding at home and wheel work in class.

Within a couple of months, I purchased a wheel and began spending 4-6 hours or more per day in my studio. I found that being able to throw every day helped me to improve my skill level rapidly. However, I also am very aware that I am still the new kid on the block, and I have a lot to learn.

I enjoy working with various colored clay arts, including nerikomi, mokume gane, and agateware, among others. Where I don’t use colored clay, I will decorate vessels with colorful glaze combinations and or carvings.