Do you take custom orders?
I tend to not take custom orders. Every piece I make comes from some form of inspiration deep inside my brain. Custom orders tend to make this creative process instead feel like a chore and wind up blocking my ability to create. Every once in a while I will take a few special mug orders around the holidays, but this is very rare! I will also occasionally take commissions for larger pieces such as a large vase or set where I can tell an ecological story that is special for the client, so please reach out using my contact form or email.
What is your process like?
Usually when I am out in the field for work, I get inspired by something I see or hear, and come up with a story I’d like to tell in clay. I then sketch some drawings in my tablet and make stencils outlining what I want on the piece I am making. Sometimes this process takes weeks, sometimes an idea builds for a year. I try to make the shape of the piece match the illustration I have in mind. I then transfer my outlines to a tattoo stencil, and apply them to leather hard greenware. After that, I slowly paint each illustration and then sgraffito fine lines for added detail. After bisque-firing, I generally apply an oxide wash to give each piece an aged look and darken the fine lines. Everything is (usually) fired to cone 5 in an electric kiln. I learned pottery by slab-building, and now typically make everything in a mash-up of slab and coil building, with some trimming done on the wheel. I make everything in my backyard studio shed at my home in southern New Mexico using mid-fire stoneware from New Mexico Clay.
How do you price your work?
This is something I struggle with every time I am selling my work. I try to keep my pottery somewhat accessible, while valuing the incredible amount of time and energy that goes into each piece, material and tool costs, as well as the years of skill development and trial and error that it took to hone in on this craft and my own personal style. My mugs tend to range from $170 to $200+ depending on the level of detail. Larger work is variable.
Are your mugs dishwasher & microwave safe?
Yes! Unless otherwise noted (such as on pieces with gold luster), everything I sell as drinkware and tableware are microwave and dishwasher safe. I do advise that folks hand wash pieces for added longevity, and avoid soaking them since I often leave a portion of my mug exterior unglazed and soaking could potentially lead to staining. However, I assure you each piece I sell is durable and suited for daily use. I know a very expensive mug may seem too precious to use, but I really want my mugs to be part of your daily ritual where you can slowly make and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea in this fast world.