Forming method: I transitioned to handbuilding a few years back and I love it—I will be a handbuilder for the rest of my career. The wheel is still fun, but only for my mug bodies.
Describe the first piece you made in clay that felt like your own style: The first pot I made that I thought had potential was for a “Strictly Functional” show about six or seven years ago. It won a juror’s choice award and it finally felt like I was heading in a direction that was my own with work I really liked.
What are you inspired by? I am really inspired by the ceramics community as a whole. Besides being great artists, I feel that clay people are just really good people and super fun to be around. I started my podcast Between Two Ewers (@betweentwoewers) just for that reason—I love to chat with them and to learn about their inspirations and techniques.
Who are your mentors? Early on in my career, I got to know Val Cushing and John Gill pretty well, and their generosity and positive attitudes to a new potter was amazing to me. I’m so lucky to have crossed paths with them.
Favorite piece in your ceramic collection? With the growing popularity of my podcast, I am building up a great collection of mugs. I swap mugs with most of my guests so it is hard to pick one of them, as they are all great.
Best piece of advice you ever received? John Gill once told me, “Never fall in love with any piece you make, you can always make another one.” That really helped me relax in my making process, which in turn freed up my creativity.
Best advice you can give to other potters? Quite often on the podcast while talking with other makers the term “be patient with yourself ” comes up. As a maker there will be a period of time where you are making things you don’t like. Stay the course and good pots will come to you as you get better working with your material.
Describe your studio: I am very lucky to have a big studio space that I share with my wife, Lauren. It was an old boat-building studio. It’s downstairs in my house and it’s really nice to be able to take a break and go upstairs for lunch or just a mental break from clay.
Best thing about your studio? I would say the best parts of my studio are two things, one that it’s in my house and two, that I share it with my wife. It’s wonderful to spend creative time with each other and to bounce ideas off one another.
Describe a typical day or session in the studio: A typical day in my studio starts early with coffee and a slab of clay. Sometimes the first things I do are throw some mug bodies and roll out a slab, this way I can’t leave without finishing them! Also, I will put out some reclaim early in the day so it has all day to dry. Then, I put on some music and try to make the forms I have in my head. If I have a podcast scheduled, I will make sure I have a piece to work on while interviewing the artists.
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Clay body: Laguna Jr. Tile Red Stoneware
Firing temperature: Cone 6
Atmosphere: Electric firing in a Skutt KM-1027
Surface treatment: Terra sigillata
Forming method: I transitioned to handbuilding a few years back and I love it—I will be a handbuilder for the rest of my career. The wheel is still fun, but only for my mug bodies.
Favorite tool: Dolan 220C knife
Website: mikegriffinceramics.weebly.com
Social media: Instagram @mike_griffin_ceramics and @betweentwoewers
Gallery representation:
Memorial Art Gallery (mag.rochester.edu)
Plough Gallery (ploughgallery.com)
Charlie Cummings Gallery (charliecummingsgallery.com)
Main Street Arts (mainstreetartscs.org)
Describe the first piece you made in clay that felt like your own style: The first pot I made that I thought had potential was for a “Strictly Functional” show about six or seven years ago. It won a juror’s choice award and it finally felt like I was heading in a direction that was my own with work I really liked.
What are you inspired by? I am really inspired by the ceramics community as a whole. Besides being great artists, I feel that clay people are just really good people and super fun to be around. I started my podcast Between Two Ewers (@betweentwoewers) just for that reason—I love to chat with them and to learn about their inspirations and techniques.
Who are your mentors? Early on in my career, I got to know Val Cushing and John Gill pretty well, and their generosity and positive attitudes to a new potter was amazing to me. I’m so lucky to have crossed paths with them.
Favorite piece in your ceramic collection? With the growing popularity of my podcast, I am building up a great collection of mugs. I swap mugs with most of my guests so it is hard to pick one of them, as they are all great.
Best piece of advice you ever received? John Gill once told me, “Never fall in love with any piece you make, you can always make another one.” That really helped me relax in my making process, which in turn freed up my creativity.
Best advice you can give to other potters? Quite often on the podcast while talking with other makers the term “be patient with yourself ” comes up. As a maker there will be a period of time where you are making things you don’t like. Stay the course and good pots will come to you as you get better working with your material.
Describe your studio: I am very lucky to have a big studio space that I share with my wife, Lauren. It was an old boat-building studio. It’s downstairs in my house and it’s really nice to be able to take a break and go upstairs for lunch or just a mental break from clay.
Best thing about your studio? I would say the best parts of my studio are two things, one that it’s in my house and two, that I share it with my wife. It’s wonderful to spend creative time with each other and to bounce ideas off one another.
Describe a typical day or session in the studio: A typical day in my studio starts early with coffee and a slab of clay. Sometimes the first things I do are throw some mug bodies and roll out a slab, this way I can’t leave without finishing them! Also, I will put out some reclaim early in the day so it has all day to dry. Then, I put on some music and try to make the forms I have in my head. If I have a podcast scheduled, I will make sure I have a piece to work on while interviewing the artists.
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