Having recently graduated from college, Emmanuel Umana is on his way to developing a new career in ceramics.

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After a twenty-year layoff, in 2019 Mark Stedman had the opportunity to buy out a retiring potter's studio. Suddenly Mark's home was full of glazes, kiln, wheel, and clay. Now Mark spends evening and weekend hours on his back patio teaching, creating, and firing work for himself and friends.

http://ThePottersCast.com/868

Brad Lail trained in North Carolina as a production thrower. Brad's training has been informed by the teachings of Leach pottery, Michael Cardew, and traditional North Carolina pottery. Brad studied abroad in Jingdezhen, China, and then in England. Brad was a journeyman potter for much of his career before deciding to try his hand at his own company, Lail Design.

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Becky Laird is a potter based in Kenmore, Washington. Becky thoughtfully creates work in her home studio with a focus on making functional ware that feels good to hold and use. The groundwork for Becky’s pottery making was established years ago in Chicago where she had her first studio and taught classes for CLAY, Lill Street Arts Center, and Little Black Pearl. After returning to Washington, Becky continued to study ceramics while pursuing her education degree at Western Washington University. Becky's curiosity about color and detail is evident in her artisanship. Her work is decorated with organic hand-drawn designs that reflect the natural beauty of her surroundings.

http://ThePottersCast.com/866

Courtney Hassmann is a ceramic artist in Houston, Texas. Courtney pinches pots, cries a lot, and loves her pets to death. Courtney's work is about doing the same thing over and over and finding something new every time.

http://ThePottersCast.com/865

Dustin Barzell is a Brooklyn-based artist who creates colorful and playful ceramics using fresh and improvisational techniques. Dustin also teaches experiential clay-based workshops in Brooklyn intended to restore and encourage a sense of play.

http://ThePottersCast.com/864

Matthew Blakely set up a pottery and gallery in Australia and was a selected member of The Potters Society of Australia and Craft Australia. Matthew returned to the UK in 2002 and set up a pottery there. Matthew was selected as a Fellow of The Craft Potters association, and he served as a Council member for the CPA from 2010 til 2016. In 2010 Matthew was awarded an Arts Council grant to research the making of place specific ceramics. From 2017 to 2021 Matthew was a Trustee of Clay College Stoke, a new ceramics tertiary college and has been involved in fundraising, setting up, and running the college

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Tosha McCarter is a Ceramic Artist born and raised in Northern California. Her introduction to the arts stared at an early age when her late father instilled a spirt of self discovery through creativity. After years of expression through her art, she came back to ceramics, one of the earliest art forms that she and her father did together. Studying at Shasta College under professor and sculptural artist David Grimm Gentry, her passion grew quickly as she discovered the strong connections she felt working with clay.

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Valerie Costanza earned a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts with emphasis in Ceramics from the Gwen Frostic School of Art inside Western Michigan University. While attending art school in Kalamazoo, MI (yes it's a real place!) Valerie found a passion for working with her hands and using materials from earth to make functional objects and sculpture. Upon graduation, her work moved all across the country, living and working nomadically in various states growing as an artist and maker. Now, nestled in Georgia, Valerie has officially opened her own humble ceramics small business - mind body clay ceramics & teaches the art of creating in clay to the public.

Sara Ballek is back on The Potters Cast. Sara's first visit to the show was back in 2020 right before the pandemic struck. So I thought it would be great to get an update on how things have progressed and changed in her life. So this is my second conversation with Sara.

http://ThePottersCast.com/860