The Potters Cast

Dee Hunt is a retired lady in her 60's who found clay some 20 years ago when she worked in the commercial world. Making pots became Dee's way of keeping sane! Now those working days are over and Dee can devote her days to being in her studio. Dee hand builds with stoneware clay and makes unusual and contemporary vessels for both home and garden. Dee's inspiration comes from her environment… the textures and colours she uses are indicative of the agricultural and coastal landscape where Dee lives. http://ThePottersCast.com/876

Bekah Bliss is a ceramic artist living in her hometown of Kansas City, Missouri. Bekah received a BFA in Ceramics and a BSED in Art Education from Missouri State University in 2016. Recently selected as one of Ceramic Monthly's Emerging Artists, Bekah's functional ceramics are carefully considered — utilizing textured surfaces, modeled on elements of nature and architecture. In 2019, Bekah joined the KC Urban Potters, an artist collective that's expanding the visibility of contemporary studio pottery through public lectures and curated exhibitions, alongside events like the Midwest Pottery Festival. Bekah currently teaches monthly classes at the Belger Arts Center and is the part-time studio manager for 323CLAY. http://ThePottersCast.com/875

Nathalie Djakou Kassi is a Cameroonian ceramicist practicing over 30years with several group exhibitions in and out of Africa. Nathalie has been living in Nigeria since 2015. Nathalie is inspired by everything that attracts her attention and her works are more on carving with different topics http://ThePottersCast.com/874

There is something special about a handmade mug that breaks the mundane madness and connects you to the artist, and through it, to the moment where you recognize the love and beauty of life. It's those moments Kadri Kunnus makes pottery. http://ThePottersCast.com/873

All art is an osmosis of sensory stimuli into a physical manifestation of our experiences. Tini Pinto is the consummate artist. Tini's primary mediums are ceramics and oil on canvas. Tini has lived an adventurous life, traveling and living around the world. Tini finds inspiration in the physical world and creativity in a metaphysical one. Tini creates work that expresses her joy and transcends the expected. http://ThePottersCast.com/872

Christine was born and raised in Montana, growing up in a rural area, fairly feral, with lots of pets. From a young age Christine would obsessively draw flowers and horses (foreshadowing). Christine attended the university of Montana, earning a BFA in painting and printmaking, and almost didn't finish due to getting hired on as a cook in elk hunting camp. After college Christine became a horse packing guide, and got to explore the magical lands that make up The Greater Yellowstone ecosystem, having many adventures involving horses, mules, bears, wolves, elk , etc. It wasn't until later, when Christine had her first child that she returned to art, painting mostly images of birds, which inspired her business name, Little Bird Painting. Around 2016 a good friend of hers got a kiln, and Christine started teaching herself how to make pinch pots and throw. She was immediately obsessed, fell in love with scraffito, and has not stopped making pottery since. Christine's pottery is folk art inspired and tells the stories of the animals and adventures from her life. http://ThePottersCast.com/871

Emily Gabriel is an accidental full time potter, formally trained as a educator but lacking an art degree. Em's current goal is to have a mug in every house in her hometown and her ongoing mission is to bring cheerfulness to every morning with a better coffee mug. http://ThePottersCast.com/870

Having recently graduated from college, Emmanuel Umana is on his way to developing a new career in ceramics. http://ThePottersCast.com/869

After a twenty-year layoff, in 2019 Mark Stedman had the opportunity to buy out a retiring potter's studio. Suddenly Mark's home was full of glazes, kiln, wheel, and clay. Now Mark spends evening and weekend hours on his back patio teaching, creating, and firing work for himself and friends. http://ThePottersCast.com/868

Brad Lail trained in North Carolina as a production thrower. Brad's training has been informed by the teachings of Leach pottery, Michael Cardew, and traditional North Carolina pottery. Brad studied abroad in Jingdezhen, China, and then in England. Brad was a journeyman potter for much of his career before deciding to try his hand at his own company, Lail Design. http://ThePottersCast.com/867

Becky Laird is a potter based in Kenmore, Washington. Becky thoughtfully creates work in her home studio with a focus on making functional ware that feels good to hold and use. The groundwork for Becky's pottery making was established years ago in Chicago where she had her first studio and taught classes for CLAY, Lill Street Arts Center, and Little Black Pearl. After returning to Washington, Becky continued to study ceramics while pursuing her education degree at Western Washington University. Becky's curiosity about color and detail is evident in her artisanship. Her work is decorated with organic hand-drawn designs that reflect the natural beauty of her surroundings. http://ThePottersCast.com/866

Courtney Hassmann is a ceramic artist in Houston, Texas. Courtney pinches pots, cries a lot, and loves her pets to death. Courtney's work is about doing the same thing over and over and finding something new every time. http://ThePottersCast.com/865

Dustin Barzell is a Brooklyn-based artist who creates colorful and playful ceramics using fresh and improvisational techniques. Dustin also teaches experiential clay-based workshops in Brooklyn intended to restore and encourage a sense of play. http://ThePottersCast.com/864

Matthew Blakely set up a pottery and gallery in Australia and was a selected member of The Potters Society of Australia and Craft Australia. Matthew returned to the UK in 2002 and set up a pottery there. Matthew was selected as a Fellow of The Craft Potters association, and he served as a Council member for the CPA from 2010 til 2016. In 2010 Matthew was awarded an Arts Council grant to research the making of place specific ceramics. From 2017 to 2021 Matthew was a Trustee of Clay College Stoke, a new ceramics tertiary college and has been involved in fundraising, setting up, and running the college http://ThePottersCast.com/863

Tosha McCarter is a Ceramic Artist born and raised in Northern California. Her introduction to the arts stared at an early age when her late father instilled a spirt of self discovery through creativity. After years of expression through her art, she came back to ceramics, one of the earliest art forms that she and her father did together. Studying at Shasta College under professor and sculptural artist David Grimm Gentry, her passion grew quickly as she discovered the strong connections she felt working with clay. http://ThePottersCast.com/862

Valerie Costanza earned a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts with emphasis in Ceramics from the Gwen Frostic School of Art inside Western Michigan University. While attending art school in Kalamazoo, MI (yes it's a real place!) Valerie found a passion for working with her hands and using materials from earth to make functional objects and sculpture. Upon graduation, her work moved all across the country, living and working nomadically in various states growing as an artist and maker. Now, nestled in Georgia, Valerie has officially opened her own humble ceramics small business - mind body clay ceramics & teaches the art of creating in clay to the public.

Sara Ballek is back on The Potters Cast. Sara's first visit to the show was back in 2020 right before the pandemic struck. So I thought it would be great to get an update on how things have progressed and changed in her life. So this is my second conversation with Sara. http://ThePottersCast.com/860

Growing up in Seattle, Hayne Bayless first got interested in clay when he found an old potter's wheel and kiln in a corner of the high school art room. The art teacher knew enough about pottery to point him to Leach's A Potter's Book, and that became his guide. Other than lessons with a potter in Tokyo as a late teen, Hayne managed to avoid any formal education in ceramics. Hayne abandoned wheel-throwing early on, lured by the freedom that hand-building offers. He set up his first studio in a tiny basement he shared with a washer and dryer, a stack of snow tires, mice and the snakes that ate them. The workspace amounted to a little more than a hundred square feet. To navigate the cramped quarters he sometimes had to slide sideways, and since then it's been Sideways Studio. It also applies to a certain way of looking at things; instead of encountering an idea head-on, you might approach it from a different angle, even sideways. It can help avoid the traps of your own assumptions and biases. His studio is larger now and still cluttered, but he doesn't have to walk sideways.

Shikha Joshi is a studio potter based in Round Rock, Texas. Born and raised in New Delhi, India, Joshi learned ceramics through community classes and workshops in the US. Joshi likes her pieces to be used, and aspires to make work that brings joy to people's daily lives. http://ThePottersCast.com/858

Kylie Smithline received her BFA in Ceramics at Jacksonville University. As a ceramicist, Kylie enjoys creating large-scale sculptural work that is non-representational as well as functional-work that corresponds with the sculptures. Kylie began working with clay in high school and decided to choose this as a career path after falling in love with the material and process. http://ThePottersCast.com/857

Nathan and Andrew Pauls are brothers and they have collaborated on some art. Andrew, who is a musician, wrote 14 songs for a song writers event where people are challenged to create a record album length group of songs in one month. Nathan joined in on all the fun and created a series of mugs in response to the music that Andrew wrote. This is the result of their collaboration. Each mug on the show notes page is made by Nathan, and right below it is the song created by Andrew that inspired Nathan. They are presented in order of creation. http://ThePottersCast.com/856

Augusta Smith is a multi-medium designer and artist based in Phoenix Arizona, primarily focused on ceramic vessels. Native to Edgefield County, South Carolina, Augusta uses his background in production scale ceramics and traditional functional forms along with his engineering research discipline to produce wares ranging from vessels and tableware to sculpture. http://ThePottersCast.com/855

Before founding Korai Goods in 2019, Corrie Ladd began her practice as a multi-disciplinary artist in her hometown of Tarpon Springs, FL, where the doodles her father made in her birthday cards became her earliest artistic inspirations. Corrie earned her BFA in drawing from The University of Florida. Corrie now makes the world's greatest pottery, among other things, and is almost always nice. bio written by her husband '22 http://ThePottersCast.com/854

"Hello Strong Human", is the message from Danielle Williams. Danielle is the face, hands, and heart behind Strong Roots Pottery. Graphic Designer by day and potter by night, Danielle resides in Dallas, TX, where she makes small batch ceramics as strong as Danielle's roots. http://ThePottersCast.com/853

Zuza Ferenczová is a part-time potter and part-time scriptwriter from Slovakia, Europe. Zuza has a small garden studio where she makes small batches of hand-built pottery. Recently Zuza has founded a nonprofit organization called Ruky v hline, dedicated to organize educational activities for kids and adults in the field of pottery. Zuz has just been accepted for a PhD program in Film and Television studies as well.

Evelyn Ward makes functional earthenware pots, with monoprinted slip transfers in her studio at Cedar Creek Gallery in Creedmoor, NC. Evelyn's aim is to make well-made pots that are a pleasure to use and look at and have around. She really enjoys making pots and hopes that they bring a little joy to people's lives. http://ThePottersCast.com/851

Alan Potter lives in Southeast Arizona where he works in his home studio creating raku-fired sculptural animals. Alan received a BA from Trinity College of Vermont in 1999. Alan's work is represented by galleries, nationally.

Mike Cerv is a ceramic artist from Kansas who loves exploring processes and glaze chemistry. Mike received his BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute and his MFA from Louisiana State University. Currently Mike is back in Kansas as a teaching resident at The University of Kansas. http://ThePottersCast.com/849

Asahi So is a Sydney-based ceramic artist specializing in sculptural pieces that combine wire with ceramic components, and in wheel-thrown functional ware. Having initially trained and worked as a florist, Asahi love of flowers has been carried over into his current work, with a focus often placed on creating vessels for flowers and foliage. http://ThePottersCast.com/848

Darren Jackson got a random postcard at his day job (K-6 general music) to attend Arrowmont. When Darren's first choice was full, he ended up in hand building. After getting a wheel that fall, Darren hasn't looked back! When Darren is not in mud, he's on his front porch, picking his banjo! http://ThePottersCast.com/847

Nicholas Lees has a string of degrees from University of Kent (BA), University of the West of England (BA), University of Wales Institute, Cardiff (MA), and the Royal College of Art (MPhil). Nicholas has work exhibited in the UK and overseas and in public collections, including York City Art Gallery, Westerwald Keramikmuseum in Germany, and Museo Internazionale delle Ceramiche in Italy. His awards include the Cersaie Prize, Faenza and Nicholas was a Senior Lecturer at Bath Spa University between 2000 and 2010 and is now a Visiting Lecturer at RCA and UCA Farnham. http://ThePottersCast.com/846

Jordyn Brummett is a wife, mom, and ceramic artist living in Huntsville, Alabama. Jordyn has a BFA in Art Education with an emphasis in ceramics. She creates out of the overflow of the healing and rest Jordyn receives from her art practice which has led her to open The Vessel - a community ceramics studio. http://ThePottersCast.com/845

Deana Coveney is the artist at Vuvu Ceramics. Dena lives and works in Encinitas, California, a small beach town north of San Diego. Deana's work captures the wonder we felt the first time we pressed a leaf into clay and combines it with the wonder we felt the first time we held a ladybug. Deana's pieces are celebrations of the everyday garden, created in stoneware clay fired to cone 5/6. http://ThePottersCast.com/844

Tyler Quintin is a Korean American ceramic sculptor and vessel maker using clay to explore themes centered around identity. Tyler is currently wrapping up his residency at the Morean Center for Clay and will be beginning his next residency at the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in June. 2022. http://ThePottersCast.com/843

Annemarie Vogel used to work as a medical doctor in Zimbabwe. When Annemarie lost her vision, she returned to the Netherlands and changed her focus to the visual arts. Luckily she is not afraid of a challenge. Annemarie's work illustrates that sight is more than vision.

Diego Valles was born in the border town of Palomas Chihuahua in July 1982.Diego has been expanding the limits not only of Mata Ortiz Ceramics, but also of traditional Mexican Ceramics. In 2010 he was awarded The National Youth Award for Arts, which is Mexico's highest honor to a young living artist, "for the combination of Science, Art and Excellence in the creation of his ceramics..." http://ThePottersCast.com/841

An orchestra conductor turned potter, Lucia Matos is originally from Brazil and lives now in the Chicago area. After having to cut short her conducting career due to hearing problems, Lucia discovered clay, and with that, she overcame grief and regained her creative voice and life purpose. http://ThePottersCast.com/840

Andy Williams is 43 years old and from the SF Bay Area. Andy has been a teacher of visual arts for 16 years and full time ceramics the last two years. Andy had not worked with clay in high school, but now it's all he thinks about. Andy is now working towards the point where he feels comfortable selling.

Kaveri Bharath is a potter in Chennai, in South India. Kaveri now has a rooftop studio with a small gas kiln that she built. The bulk of Kaveri's ceramic education and exposure came from Ray and Debby of GBP, Pondicherry. Kaveri builds kilns, teaches, and also makes and sells pottery. http://ThePottersCast.com/838

Harry Levenstein is a potter currently working in the southern Berkshires of western Massachusetts. Harry is the ceramics lab tech at the Bard College at Simon's Rock where he also teaches and maintains his own studio practice.

Gaspar Gorodisch is an Argentinian potter, Born in 1996 in the city of Buenos Aires. Through his young adult life Gaspar hopped between careers and jobs, having started as a cook at 18, managing bands and studying music full time at 20, and due to a bizarre accident, falling in love with pottery. http://ThePottersCast.com/836

Em Piscopo stumbled into ceramics nearly 2.5 years ago in an attempt to discover my creative side after letting my analytical side take the reigns for too long. The connection was instantaneous, and Em fell in love hard and fast with the medium of clay. Em could never in her wildest dreams have anticipated making pieces that would someday be passed from her hands to those of family and friends, old and new, all over the map. The heart of Nightshade is, and in some ways has always been, finding the intersections between art and science, style and function, and to bring a bit of magic into everyday life.

Mandy Henebry has been working with clay for almost 3 decades. Mandy's work is a reflection of her love for home décor, and entertaining with food. Soft colors and tactile patterns grace the surfaces of her pottery. Mandy currently lives in Boise, Idaho working as a full-time studio potter. http://ThePottersCast.com/834

I began working with clay in 2011 when I asked a cashier to teach me pottery. Since then, I have worked in and built multiple studios nationally and internationally. I make functional pieces born from an inner stillness and I strive to help my students find their own stillness through my teaching. http://ThePottersCast.com/833

If Amanda had known she would one day be a professional potter, she would have taken more than Introduction to Pottery in college! Amanda was re-introduced to ceramics while stationed in Germany (2008) on a US military instillation that had several recreational centers, one of which had pottery wheels and a kiln. Since then Amanda has primarily been self taught through through research, asking a lot of questions, and trial and error. Amanda's work is 100% designed and handcrafted by herself. Her bubble designs are relatively new. Amanda uses a combination of underglazes, overglazes, and decals.

Chris received his BFA from the University of Tennessee and his MFA from the University of Florida. Chris served as a long term Resident Fellow at the Archie Bray Foundation from 2012 to 2014. Chris currently resides in Pocatello, Idaho, and serves as an Assistant Professor at Idaho State University.

Raina Lee is an artist based in Los Angeles and works in clay and experimental glazes. Raina's practice draws from ceramics history, archeology, and burial objects, and objects from her family's past. Raina began in clay making functional works and has recently started making sculptural pieces.

Kylie Osmond is a mostly self taught potter and the owner of Smiley Seahorse Ceramics, a business that she runs full-time with help from her husband, Tim, in New Brunswick, Canada. Kylie and Tim make colorful ocean inspired pottery that they sell online and out of their mobile boutique - a 6x10 cargo trailer converted into a tiny nautical store. http://ThePottersCast.com/829

Mara & KC are a couple of graphic designers who live in the Phoenix metro area. KC was a hand builder in college and Mara became obsessed with wheel throwing just a few years ago. They started to look for a studio space outside of their laundry room and when they couldn't find one, they decided to create one. Like all little ideas, it snowballed, and before they knew it, they were opening a full-blown public ceramics studio and coffee shop/wine bar. Tom started working with clay in middle school and has continued to work in the medium ever since for 25 plus years. He is based out of Tempe, AZ who creates functional and sculptural objects. All dots are individually applied one by one and all work is food, microwave and dishwasher safe. Tom earned his BFA from Arizona State University and his MFA from New Mexico State University both with an emphasis in ceramics. He is currently an adjunct professor at South Mountain Community College and instructor at PIP Coffee and Clay. http://ThePottersCast.com/828

Jacob Vinson originates from high desert plains of Wyoming, although he now calls Michigan home. Jacob has been working as a ceramic artist for over fifteen years and his fascination with the medium only continues to grow. In 2009 Jacob received his BFA from Utah State University, and in 2021 he received his MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art. Jacob's studio practice primarily revolves around but is not limited to utilitarian craft and the material science that is clay.