The Potters Cast

Marlaina Mathisen is a proficient wheel throwing artist who loves to share her understanding of the wheel to others. Marlaina's personal work focuses primarily on wheel thrown and altered forms ranging from functional works of art to organic sculptural centerpieces. Currently Marlaina teaches a variety of classes at The Digs in Chicago, Fine Line Creative Arts Center in and supplying and managing a pottery gallery in Door County Wisconsin called Ephraim Clayworks. Marlaina's 5 year plan is to continue diligently working towards establishing her own pottery studio. https://ThePottersCast.com/1124

Brighton, U.K. based ceramicist, Nicola Gillis makes functional tableware. Nicola takes inspiration from the East Asian use of tableware, a specific purpose for each vessel and where pleasure is drawn from individuality. Although there are commonalities, she does not seek to replicate exact size or marks and embraces imperfection. Shadows and light on daily walks throughout the seasons and the beauty found in degraded surfaces and patina also inform her work. Nicola has developed her interest in ceramics over the past 8 years, studying on the full-time Ceramic Development course at Forest Row School of Ceramics in 2019, and beginning to sell her work in during 2020. Initially using the wheel, Nicola developed her practice to include hand-building with slabs, carving, and coils, all of which she finds to be a slower, more thoughtful approach to making. https://ThePottersCast.com/1123

Multi disciplinary artist Niharika Hukku is based in Sydney. Niharika received her Bachelor of Fine Art in painting from the Delhi College of Art, India, and has undertaken studies in ceramics and sculpture in Indonesia, Singapore, New Zealand, and Australia. Niharika's work has been featured in over 30 solo and group for exhibitions in California, Sydney, Canberra, Adelaide, and Wellington since 2009 such as, Arcadia Contemporary, USA(2019), Sculpture by the Sea, Sydney (2016, 2024), and the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts. Her work has been a finalist in the , Mosman Art Prize, Sydney (2017), 29th Gold Coast International Ceramic Art Award (2014) and the Harden Art prize(2024), featured in the book 'Earth and Fire' and also illustrated a children's book 'This bird has arms' which an honour book of the year. Her work has been acquired by Gold Coast City Gallery, and private collections in Australia and overseas. https://ThePottersCast.com/1122

Aaron Raymond is a Canadian potter that started his pottery journey in March of 2024. He has learned everything so far from the school of YouTube and by watching videos on Instagram. Aaron's work focuses on creating tiled designs on his work using both original designs or recreating tiled flooring from around the world. Aaron's interest in handmade pottery began while living in Lisbon, Portugal, for 2 years from 2018 to 2020, and it was the intricate stone designs in the plazas and sidewalks of Lisbon that first transpired the idea of putting these designs onto clay. https://ThePottersCast.com/1121

Will Donovan is the founder of Donovan Pottery, where storytelling and craft collide to create fantasy-inspired ceramics. Passionate about blending history, literature, and art, Will explores how pottery can bring stories to life. Will also runs Mathom House, a brand championing craft, community, and creative storytelling. https://ThePottersCast.com/1120

NCECA was in full swing and I wasn't there. So sad! So i did the next best thing... I attended through Instagram! Then I had the thought, What if I invited people that were posting at NCECA to call me for a short interview? So I tried it and it worked. These brave souls responded to my request and I got to talk to them while they were at NCECA. https://ThePottersCast.com/1119

Michael Cole, largely self-taught, has refined advanced techniques through workshops with esteemed artists like Noel Bailey, Steven Hill, Jon Townley, Deb Lecce, Sarah Wells Rolland, Simon Leach, and Jenifer McCurdy. Michael was a member of the 2024 Steven Hill Journey Workshop at Alison Palmer Studio. Michael makes his living as personal assistant to Broadway composer Stephen Schwartz. https://ThePottersCast.com/1118

Kara Leigh Ford is an English potter and author. In Kara's first visit with The Potters Cast we enjoyed learning about her journey into ceramics. Then she wrote a book, Pottery for Beginners and Kara came back for a second time to talk about her book. Today on Kara's third visit with The Potters Cast we talk about her second book, The Essential Pottery Notebook. https://ThePottersCast.com/1117

Danielle Lane & Lara Irwin's Instagram profile says, Two besties throwing like girls. And that explains their relationship perfectly- Danielle and Lara are best friends who make pottery together in Victoria, BC Canada. It all started when Danielle and Lara decided to buy a potters wheel together. Now they are making ceramics together and they wouldn't have it any other way. https://ThePottersCast.com/1116

Matt Wassenaar makes pottery all year long and sells it for 7 weekends at his booth in the Minnesota Renaissance Festival. After meeting Warren MacKenzie decades ago Matt took to heart his philosophy - make pottery for function and affordability. In 2001 Matt and his wife bought a booth at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival and started selling their work. Selling at the festival has turned into sales of 2,100 pots in 7 weekends. https://ThePottersCast.com/1115

GiAnna Orangio is a hobby potter based in the San Francisco Bay Area in California. Her brand, Evil Eye Pottery is a collection of vases that she creates on the pottery wheel in her home studio. GiAnna shares her ceramic journey and creations on social media (links below). https://ThePottersCast.com/1114

Anita & Neil Lawrence met in art school back in the late 80’s and have been carving out a living together ever since. When Anita and Neil first graduated from art school they did various jobs on Vancouver Island in British Colombia to make ends meet. Eventually they bought a production studio, opened a restaurant, and lately a gallery studio. https://ThePottersCast.com/1113

Sarah Gromek is a high school jewelry & metalworking teacher. Sarah started ceramics eight years ago and now has her own small business. Sarah's studio is in her dining room and she sells her work online and through galleries. https://ThePottersCast.com/1112

Heather Elyse Head, a Northeast Georgia potter, blends traditional folk pottery with vibrant glazes and whimsical female faces. Mentored by esteemed regional potters, Heather's playful creations bring a modern twist to the craft. Her favorite part? Seeing her work makes people smile. https://ThePottersCast.com/1111

Eric Rempe first touched clay when he was in high school in Lancaster, PA. Eric has a BFA in ceramics from Penn State University and an MFA in ceramics from San Diego State University. Eric now lives in Princeton, NJ and he teaches ceramics at Princeton Day School. https://ThePottersCast.com/1110

NCECA is around the corner. NCECA is the largest art conference around and the event takes a massive amount of effort to make it happen. In today's episode we spend time with three amazing artists who helped to make this year's conference happen. Our guests, PJ Anderson, Antra Sinha, and Dara Hartman, have spent the last two years organizing, planning, and now executing in order to make this year's conference take place. https://ThePottersCast.com/1109

Shoji Satake, born in Kyoto, Japan and raised in Anchorage, Alaska, earned a BA in Studio Art and Government from The College of William and Mary (1996) and an MFA from Indiana University (2004). He is an associate professor of ceramics at Rhode Island School of Design. Shoji is also president of the NCECA Board of Directors. His work has been exhibited internationally. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, and fly fishing. https://ThePottersCast.com/1108

Emilie Bouvet-Boisclair is a Canadian born artist living in Illinois. Emilie's approach to pottery is formed by a past of learning to throw with a production potter, and being immersed in the community studios of Chicago. Emilie has been a painter in her youth through her mid 20's, holding a BA in Fine Art from the State University of New York, Geneseo. Emilie's passion in the arts lies in the process of discovery. https://ThePottersCast.com/1107

Born in Berlin, Karoline Menge moved to Italy with her partner in 2021. Studied literature and writing, started making pottery in 2015 when she was still at Uni, did small jobs to be able to continue making pottery. Karoline opened her own studio in 2018 and started working full time as a potter. Now Karoline works in her studio in a small village called Bogliasco at the Ligurian coast in Italy. https://ThePottersCast.com/1106

Clare Unger uses hand stitching as a means of mark making on clay slabs to create ceramic vessels for domestic use. In this way Clare pays homage to her female ancestors for whom sewing and stitching was an important means of creative self-expression in their role as home makers. https://ThePottersCast.com/1105