Pottery

Custom Handmade Pottery

Each piece is unique and shaped by hand from soft clay on the pottery wheel. The piece is then dried before being further shaped, sometimes into non-round forms, including rectangles, ovals, and curves. The piece is then trimmed to refine its shape and add details such as foot rings. Other textures may be added, or I may carve designs in the clay. Each piece is stamped with my maker’s mark on the bottom, then set on the shelf to dry.

Days later, after the clay has dried, it is fired to the appropriate temperature in a kiln, turning the clay into a hard form called stoneware. This first firing makes the pot into bisqueware, but it’s not finished. The clay at this stage is still porous and not yet waterproof.

Next, the pot is lightly sanded to smooth any sharp edges, then wiped clean of dust. Then, the glaze is added. Keep in mind when custom ordering pottery that there are many glazes I can do, so don’t be afraid to say what colors, textures, and styles you would like!

Finally, the pottery is fired one last time in the glaze firing. This melts the glaze so it sticks to the pot and creates a lovely, often shiny appearance. The piece is then washed and ready to find its home.

What I Make

I make a wide variety of forms, all thrown on the wheel. The wheel initially creates things that are round, but I can reshape them to be oval, odd, rectangular, triangular, or just about any form you can think of. Pottery has a wide variety of uses for your home. To give you an idea, here are some I’ve made so far, but I love trying new techniques and forms. Most of what I make is functional, but I enjoy creating decorative forms as well. Any of these can have personalized features, unique handles, spouts, feet, carvings, lids, etc. View the portfolio of the many unique forms I’ve made.

Functional Forms

  • Mugs
  • Bowls for all functions
  • All kinds of cups and goblets
  • Chip and dip bowls
  • Plates, including ones with short walls
  • Small pitchers
  • Tea cups
  • Tea Pots
  • Shot glasses
  • Pet food and water dishes
  • Planters
  • Pots
  • Lidded jars
  • Vases
  • Bud vases
  • Citrus juicers with or without strainers
  • Pencil holders
  • Steins
  • Lantern
  • Candle pedestal
  • Christmas tree centerpiece
  • Decorative pumpkin
  • Personal-sized cauldron

Care Instructions

I use food-safe only glazes. All the pots I make and glazes I use can be:

  • Washed by hand or by dishwasher with soap and water, just don’t leave the bottoms soaking in water. The bottom of the pot is left unglazed, so it is more porous and not waterproof. It can be wiped off and dried.
  • All my pottery is oven and microwave-safe. It is best to preheat the pot with the oven, so put it in the oven as it is preheating.
  • Avoid temperature shock. Do not move the pot from a refrigerator directly to an oven or microwave: this will stress and crack the pot.
  • Do not expose to direct heat or flames, such as grills or stovetops.
  • All vases can hold water on the inside.

Any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.

Personal Artist Statement

In 2023, my divorce was finalized. Building up to that moment, I had an urge to get messy, play with clay, take my frustration out, and make something new with it. So I signed up with Crealde, a community art school, and have been taking wheel pottery classes ever since. I love creating functional forms that aren’t just made to be looked at but used and enjoyed for many years. I’m always experimenting and trying new techniques and forms. Art should never become stagnant. It’s important to keep learning and growing.

My love for nature is often reflected in my work. I like colors that reflect the beauty of our natural world. I add little touches that reflect the world around me. I carve ferns, orchids, and bald cypress trees into the clay, or use slip to create natural textures reminiscent of tree bark.

Custom orders

I can make ceramics personalized just for you with unique shapes, textures, designs, and colors to match your interests and aesthetics. Keep in mind, custom orders at this time may take a few weeks to a few months to complete. Contact me, and we will discuss your ideas together.