The Potters Cast | Pottery | Ceramics | Art | Craft

Phil Lyons is an artist, musician, and teacher in Madison, Wisconsin. Phil has been teaching ceramics & sculpture for the last 17 years at his alma mater, Madison West High where he replaced the legendary Don Hunt. Phil says, "I run one of the biggest and best high school ceramics studios anywhere!" Phil has an amazing wife (Judy) and three grown, creative sons.

Alana Wilson, based in Sydney, Australia, has been practicing ceramics for 7 years since graduating from the National Art School with a BFA (Hons) in 2012. Subtle surface destructions and experimental glazing and firing techniques are a major focus in the studio. These quiet meditations into the beauty of the decayed utilitarian attempt to captivate and impel the viewer beyond the physicality and functionality of the works.

NCECA 2019 was an amazing conference for clay people from around the world. I met people from Scotland, Russia, New Zealand, Norway, Canada, and of course, the United States. And everyone has one thing in common... Clay! This is the largest conference of its kind in the world. In this episode I interview random attendies of NCECA.

Reiko Mihagi is a native of Japan who got her ceramic education in Tokyo and experience as a studio potter in Mashiko, a renowned pottery town. After moving to the US Reiko experienced new materials and techniques and developed her signature sgraffito stoneware. Reiko work is infused with an appreciation of subtle beauty and the animistic view of the world from her native land. Reiko lives in Western North Carolina and, along with her pottery studio, runs a small market garden with her husband.

Since graduating from Auburn University with a BFA in 2007, Chad Nelson has been making and selling pottery. The main goal of Chad's work is to help people smile a little bit more every day through the use of his functional stoneware.

Trevor Foster has been working full time with ceramics for the past 10 years. Trevor has a BFA in Ceramics from the University of Washington were he studied under Akio Takamori and Doug Jeck. He operated a delft ceramics factory in Seattle for 2 years as an apprentice to Charles Kraftt. Trevor currently operates a ceramics studio in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Trevor's ceramics have been exhibited in 6 different countries over the past 2 years.

Rachel Love graduated from Western Washington University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mixed Media. Rachel currently devotes a majority of her time to her family and young daughters but has still been able to enrich and expand her business which can be found online under the name of High Yield Studio.  Rachel is preparing for an exciting 2019, where she will continue to utilize her mixed media skills and expand on her true love and biggest interest which is creating ceramic pieces.

Lydia Johnson is a ceramic artist and designer who works full time in her studio in Manchester, Connecticut. Lydia's work has been exhibited across the country at galleries such as The Clay Studio, Northern Clay Center, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Lillstreet Gallery, and Artstream Nomadic Gallery. Lydia was the recipient of the 2017 Individual Artist Fellowship from the Tennessee Arts Commission.

Julia Smith is a potter based in the Highlands of Scotland. Julia has a home studio and produces illustrated ceramics and one off pots for exhibitions. Julia uses earthenware, decals, and studio made layered glazes. Julia has an online sale once a month and sell at events throughout the UK.

Laurie Caffery Harris grew up in Boone, North Carolina, a small town surrounded by the peaks and valleys of the Blue Ridge Mountains. From a young age she was compelled to work with her hands, watching her mother, a professional painter. On weekends Laurie spent time in the woods with her father, where she learned to identify mountain ranges and types of trees. Encouraged by her creative parents, Laurie grew up passionately exploring different medias, primarily painting and drawing.

Carrie Whalen, mother of four, from Kingston, Ontario, has been studying, creating, and teaching art for over 30 years. Carrie is an award winning design graduate with diplomas in fine arts and fashion design. Tuile is a 9 year old unschooled girl artist.  Tuile has been drawing, painting and making clay sculptures since she's been able to hold a pencil, paintbrush, and ball of clay.  Tuile is passionate about everything she does.  Tuile loves imaginative play and animals.

Emily May is most at home while she is in the studio. Emily is an emerging, multidisciplinary artist from Vancouver, British Columbia who communicates her ideas mainly through ceramics but will also include sculpture, painting, film, performance, and collaborative work. Emily received her Fine Arts Diploma from Langara College and she is currently residing in Halifax, Nova Scotia where she transferred to NSCAD University. Emily is hoping to complete her BFA with a major in Ceramics this year (2019). 

Jon Schmidt is a potter, entrepreneur, adventurer, videographer, photographer, father, and husband. Jon began his pottery adventures in 2010 when he took his first wheel throwing class at Gustavus Adolphus in St. Peter, MN.  Jon graduated with a Business management degree. Jon combined his passion for handmade pottery and entrepreneurship skills to purchase the coffee shop, Mocha Monkey in 2011, at 21 years old. Mocha Monkey uses and sells all handmade Jon Schmidt pottery. 

Hannah Bould is a potter who lives and works in North London. Hannah initially studied Illustration at Camberwell college of Art and went on to work in Fine Art printmaking, before getting involved with clay in 2012. Hannah now works full time from her garden studio making functional, wheel thrown, stoneware ceramics. Hannah’s work is primarily monochromatic and she mostly works with wax resist, focusing on geometric bold shapes and expressive painterly marks.

I went to the mic and asked for the listeners to send me their top picks from the first 500 episodes and what part of the episodes really made and impact. For some of the people who wrote in I was able to call them and have a short conversation, and for others I read their email. Either way, this episode is dear to my heart. I hope you enjoy it.