Craig Roberts

HairyPottersPottery

197 vendas

Queen Creek, Arizona

21

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I've been throwing, sculpting, and decorating pottery for a rather long time.
I utilize stoneware, red ware, and porcelain, as well as glass, silver, and gold.
I like to create unique pieces - face pots, bird themed pieces, raku art pottery, and "scenic ware". I also enjoy working on traditional styles - Colonial style Red Ware, cobalt blue (folk-arty) stoneware, and various pieces that emulate Red Wing stoneware.
And - I enjoy the challenge of miniaturizing most of the aforementioned styles .

I was introduced to the pottery wheel in Noel Strobino's basement - in upstate NY.
I pursued the intrigue at local museum Art School, with Vincent Clemente, who slowly became a mentor (He recently passed away, at 92).
I was in a band at night - worked on pottery during the day.

After a job offer from SANTA'S WORKSHOP, near Lake Placid, NY, I left the band and became a working, potting, ELF. It was a strange, cool, and enlightening experience...But seasonal, due to the early advent of SNOW on Whiteface Mountain.
Santa took me to a couple of concerts at Saratoga during my Santa's Potter time at the "Alpine village" theme park.

I continued pottery studies at Waynesburg University, in SW PA. where I was allowed to pursue my interests, passions, and intrigue. I made pots, got paid to keep the studio running, received ongoing scholarships, and was allowed to design many of my own courses of study. While there, I was guided by Dan Morris and Susan Howsare - and graduated with a FINE ARTS degree, MAGNA CUM LAUDE.

I chose to stay in SW PA and started a Chimney Sweeping business, after having an eye-opening little chimney fire in my little pottery shed - on top of a beautiful ridge.
The chimney business grew - a lot...It got into wood stove sales, service and installation...as well as 3 types of chimney re-lining....and a Fireplace Shop...and Fireplace Construction...and numerous Building and Safety Certifications... and conducting Inspections for local Insurance Companies...and going into court as an expert technical witness...and at that point - MAKING NO POTTERY FOR A YEAR (none!), really...At that point, I was getting BURNT OUT - PUN INTENDED, of course...

I got back into making pots, took on a P-T job where I only did the Wheel Throwing aspect of the process. I thought I was a pretty good potter at the onset of that position - but attained surprisingly better proficiency after a few months.
Some days I would throw over 300 pounds of pottery...often the "same piece" - 60 or 70 times ! (Some pots weighed a pound, 3, 4, 5, and up to 8 pounds..)
I did spend a lot of my time at that point, working with an apprentice, a charming and talented decorator, Megan Cleveland.
I also spent many enjoyable hours conducting pottery workshops and storytelling events in PA schools for the PA Council on the Arts...studied glassblowing for a few years, too.
My Sundays were usually fun and memorable - in the church choir - often, amusingly mentored, in the tenor section by Professor James "Fuzzy" Randolph, one uniquely talented and now, missed individual - but memorably - missed with a smile.

After being trapped in a fire in my workshop/gallery on 3/18/98, I found myself in sad shape - mentally. To cope, I buried myself in the study and production of DECORATIVE & UTILITARIAN COLONIAL STYLE RED WARE for about a year.
Sometime after that unforgettable year, a truck accident injured my neck and shoulders. Making pottery with those snail's pace healing injuries was impossible.
So, I slowly pursued MINIATURIZATION of all of my pottery styles. It took no strength, really - but was difficult - to say the least. The new challenges brought on by the mini pottery were daunting - but somehow refreshing.
Almost none of my well honed skills or techniques in throwing, decorating, firing, or glazing were "transferable" to ONE INCH SCALE - where 1 inch = 1 foot...The pots didn't look right.
So - I went back to an idea that was given to me by my daughter - years earlier. Jennifer was about 9 when she brought me a little gray garbage can that "Garbage Candy" came in. She stated : "Dad, you could take this garbage can and it could be a glaze bucket for a little pottery studio. And then you could make a little pottery wheel like the one out on the patio...and shelves...and you know what ? If you made tiny pots - then we could put them in a brief case and FLY to art shows...AND we wouldn't have to LOAD ALL THOSE BOXES in the truck anymore..."
SO, I had quickly found that I really had to BUILD A MINIATURE POTTERY STUDIO in order to "SIZE" the pottery correctly - with tools, workbenches, and a potter's kick wheel. The wheel actually could spin. I wanted the studio to be "believable". With all the studio equipment and accessories, I could now reference the new little pots to their properly sized 1/12th scale surroundings. The "average" miniature pot is 5/8" in height, with wall thickness of 1/32" - sometimes less.
We have created and sold about 26 miniature studios - in 1" scale as well as 1/2" scale - where 1/2 inch = 1 foot. Some are in private collections - others in museums.

"BELIEVABILITY" IS THE KEY - WHEN IT COMES TO MINIATURES.

Eventually, the tendon and ligament damage got better and I got back to regular "BIG POTS" - some at 20+ gallon capacity - to prove myself to myself, I guess.
After trying to restart the "Regular sized pottery" business, driving by the site of the fire, and dealing with an absolute myriad of "life happenings"- I chose to move to AZ,
We have been blessed with son, Lyrik Gabriel, now 16. He may soon be making pieces of his own...says he needs to make money for Legos...
After coping with some health issues and seeing the need to be "around" Lyrik on a regular basis, I backed off on my miniature show travels and workshops.
So, I am trying to GET MY Etsy SHOP "FULLER", and pursue some other "stay at home" online marketing avenues, links, etc...

As of April of 2022 (and a relocation to Queen Creek, AZ), I am working on MINIATURE and regular sized pots, a "line" of historical Red Wing pottery emulations, and numerous other projects...including a WEBSITE...

AND, YES - I DO portray Santa Claus when called upon.
Having learned so much from my friendship with Santa, years ago - it makes perfect sense.
It does require a bit of time in a salon to whiten my hair.
I absolutely love the mutual joy that happens with youngsters - and "oldsters".

OOPS - it says "tell people a LITTLE about yourself...