Although I started pottery almost 40 years ago, it wasn't until the last 20 years that I made it a full-time career. Living up in Northern California probably helped pushed me in this direction since the job market is slim and I thought I might as well try to scratch out a living making pots.
I like to experiment with a lot of different forms, often starting with some ruined pot that my partner, Cliff, wants to recycle into the clay bin. What he sees as flaws, I see as opportunities. Although this doesn't always work out, it does lead to some interesting ideas which seem to manifest down the road.
Probably, what I known best for are my little bud vases that I've been turning out for the last 15 years. They first began as glaze tests, then later evolved into a production item as demand increased. I like to squash and poked them into interesting shapes.
Shell and sea forms are another obsession. There's something particularly mysterious and sensual about a shell. Maybe because we can't get inside without breaking it open. Maybe because we can hear the sound of the ocean when we hold a shell up to our ear. I don't know, I just like to make them.
If you'd like to see more of my work, my partner and I have a beautiful studio/gallery in Albion. Just send us an e-mail to let us know when you're in the area and when you would like to drop by.
cglover@mcn.org