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So...why Clay Street Studios?

 Back in college at West Virginia Wesleyan, I studied under Mike Thiedemann.  I worked for him one summer helping to paint his house.  At lunch, we would sit at the table, the food served and eaten from hand-made pottery.  What a difference that provided in the enjoyment of a simple meal.  I was an art major, but primarily a painter.  Mike was my advisor, and taught both painting and ceramics. He suggested I try some work in clay, so I did a couple classes.  He influenced the potter I have become, though all that lay dormant for ten years until I was invited to teach art in New Hampshire at The White Mountain School, a private independent high school.  I dug into my past experience and began teaching ceramics and photography, both requiring quite a bit of refreshing for me.  Basically, I taught myself as I worked with my students.  Their desire to learn challenged me to figure out ways to help them.

In nearby Littleton, Clay Street climbs up a steep hill.  I photographed the sign one day with the interesting shadows on the wall of the bank.  I hung a copy of the photo in the ceramics studio, and it just kind of stuck with me.  Working in clay can be a steep uphill climb, for you have to be pretty down to earth in order to make it work.  I'm still trying to make it work.  After twenty-five years, I still feel the influence of my professor who stressed that one must work regularly at your artwork, not only when inspired, so that when inspiration comes along, you have developed the skills to successfully transfer that inspiration into material form.

Win a Zoo Pot

In my travels I have run across hundreds of Clay Streets in the world.  At Clay Street Studios we love to know our customers. Do you live, work, or play near a Clay Street?  Send us your Clay Street picture, the city, state and country your Clay Street is located and we will post it on our website.  The most interesting submission will win a zoo pot at the end of the year.  Click here to submit your photo.