Amazing Pottery by Amy Jackson

Amy Jackson is a brand new potter to the world of artists, and we are so glad that she approached us in our Fairfax showroom and presented her work. Her pottery is not just outstanding, but it is different take on the art. Her architectural background has a lot to do with the angular shapes she plays with. Her first interaction with pottery occurred while working at an art camp in the summer of 1987. She only picked it up again recently when she decided to take a ceramics class in 2009, but look at what she can make:

Aren’t these the most exciting pitchers you’ve ever seen? It’s a double Pitcher Perfect.

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Barbara Gatterdam and Her Magnificent Pottery

If her name sounds familiar, it’s no coincidence; she is co-owner Mark Gatterdam’s very talented mother. I had the pleasure of going to her home during last year’s Great Falls Studio Art Tour, and watched her finish up some of the pottery she had just taken out of the kiln.

Look at the beautiful glazes and details in the handles on this magnificent bowl. You can find the Altered Rim Oval Bowl in our Fairfax showroom.

Barbara’s work is absolutely beautiful and functional, just like our furniture. It’s no wonder Mark grew up to appreciate art in all its form. Their home in Great Falls is filled with Hardwood Artisans furniture and Barbara Gatterdam’s pottery. Barbara is also a collector of other potters’ works, and you can see the collection on every shelf in her home.

Talk about functional! Barbara makes these beautiful brie makers that come with a handmade wooden knife from Thailand. If you’re looking for a brie recipe, look no further, she provides the recipe as well. Snatch one of these up from our Fairfax showroom.

Barbara studied at several different schools to learn about the arts, including the Corcoran School of Art and has taken workshops with well known national and international potters. She has been a potter for 35 years. Her pots are made from stoneware clay and fired in her kiln to 2300 degrees, taking about 12 to 14 hours to complete.

A new vase shape that Barbara has been experimenting with. I think she did a terrific job, what do you think?

Her favorite pottery forms to make are pitchers and vases. “There is a great feeling of accomplishment to create a tall graceful form” she says. Barbara participates in many local pottery shows, and seasonally in Lost River, West Virginia. You can see Barbara’s work in our Fairfax and Rockville showrooms.

Some of her favorite shapes and forms. The Pitcher and Vase by Barbara Gatterdam

Our Expanding Local Artist Program

As you know, Hardwood Artisans loves our local artists and showing them off. We have a collection of new local artwork in our showrooms and we’d love for all the fans of handmade art to visit our showrooms and check them out:

Barbara Gatterdam – makes beautiful pottery out of her home in Great Falls, VA
Fred Eberhart – for a limited time only, a local photographer we acquired through Broadway Gallery in Alexandria, VA
Amy Jackson – a brand new local potter with her own sense of style in Fair Oaks, VA
Lawrence Oliver – makes handmade wooden sculptures that leave you in awe in Missouri

From top counter-clockwise; Fred Eberhart: Old Rag, Clearing Storm; Barbara Gatterdam: Large Bowl; Lawrence Oliver: Vase in ebonized cherry; Amy Jackson: Hibiscus

Throughout this week we will be posting blogs highlighting about different local artists that we are displaying in our showroom.

Tuesday: Barbara Gatterdam & Fred Eberhart

Wednesday: Amy Jackson & Lawrence Oliver

We’re excited to hear your opinions on their work!

Stunning Art – Created by Fire in a Trash Can

Yes, you can light your trash can on fire. That is if you are creating a piece of Raku pottery.

What a fun job! We love local artists and have three new artists displaying their work in our Fairfax showroom. One is a Raku potter and sculptor, Stephanie Firestone. Here is one of her Raku fired pieces title “Triangle Tower.”

Stephanie Firestone's Triangle Tower

Stephanie grew up in Chevy Chase, Maryland and knew art was going to be her destiny from a young age. She is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. She uses color and form in a unique way that represents truth and essence. She has featured her work in many juried shows including Sculpture Now 2006, the annual show of the WSG. Ocassionally she works with the techniques of Raku pottery and creates stunning pieces. Including this one:

Stephanie Firestone's Raku Pottery piece, Fossilized

Stephanie will be doing a demonstration on how she makes her own unique pieces at our Local Artists Demonstrations Event on May 15^th at 12pm in Fairfax. She will bring in one of her trash cans and other materials used to fire Raku pottery. What do you know about Raku Pottery? Here is a little bit of information that might spark you into starting a new hobby.

Raku is a pottery technique that began in Japan during the 16^th century. Its unique colors mostly come from the techiques used during its firing process. Here are a few images to help you understand a little bit about the process…

You need a heated piece of pottery:

Pottery being pulled out of the kiln

And a trash can filled with straw or other materials to obtain the effect you want to show on your pottery:

Trash can ready for the pottery to go inside of it

You place the heated pottery into the trash can with straw or other materials and it lights on fire:

Once you place the pottery inside of the trashcan it will light on fire!

Piece of pottery inside of the fire which gives it such unique colors

You can learn more about the process of Raku pottery from this video or a further explanation about it from Art Ed. Perhaps you will love it as much as we do!