The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity. The creative mind plays with the object it loves. -Carl Jung
meet our artists
Mariella Pagliuca
Mariella was born in Uruguay and since 2008 lives in Canada. After experimenting with different mediums, she chose to focus on ceramics. She is now a graduate from the Ceramics Program at Sheridan College. She is inspired by her life experiences, as well as her surroundings. Creation and re-creation, building and re-building, construction and de-construction. She sees parallels between her processes in the studio and her philosophy of life. Each piece she creates is deeply infused with her own energy, emotions and feelings. She is deeply influenced by her relatively recent and dramatic change in landscape. Ceramics as alchemy brings together air, fire, water and mud, all elements inconstant transformation. Clay mutates, ceramics occurs with energy and human intervention. Ceramics changes from rigid to flexible and back to rigid, in a process that seeks synthesis of the elements. Her works in clay allows her to change and to make changes. These changes depend on her intuition, her own inner creativity. She uses colours usually taken from nature, these coulours reflect the shades and hues of her emotions and feelings.
Mariella was born in Uruguay and since 2008 lives in Canada. After experimenting with different mediums, she chose to focus on ceramics. She is now a graduate from the Ceramics Program at Sheridan College. She is inspired by her life experiences, as well as her surroundings. Creation and re-creation, building and re-building, construction and de-construction. She sees parallels between her processes in the studio and her philosophy of life. Each piece she creates is deeply infused with her own energy, emotions and feelings. She is deeply influenced by her relatively recent and dramatic change in landscape. Ceramics as alchemy brings together air, fire, water and mud, all elements inconstant transformation. Clay mutates, ceramics occurs with energy and human intervention. Ceramics changes from rigid to flexible and back to rigid, in a process that seeks synthesis of the elements. Her works in clay allows her to change and to make changes. These changes depend on her intuition, her own inner creativity. She uses colours usually taken from nature, these coulours reflect the shades and hues of her emotions and feelings.
Cathy Allen
Cathy has been an avid part-time potter since 1991 when she enrolled in her first evening pottery class. Her work is mostly made on the wheel and is mainly of a functional nature. She has participated in many different method workshops over the years, but early focus was slip and carving techniques on her wares. Recently the work has changed and now includes some diverse patterns and colours., showing that her freedom of artistic expression is coming to the forefront! Her work is made up of both porcelain and stoneware clay bodies and includes the patterns which have now become a rewarding inspiration to her.
Cathy has been an avid part-time potter since 1991 when she enrolled in her first evening pottery class. Her work is mostly made on the wheel and is mainly of a functional nature. She has participated in many different method workshops over the years, but early focus was slip and carving techniques on her wares. Recently the work has changed and now includes some diverse patterns and colours., showing that her freedom of artistic expression is coming to the forefront! Her work is made up of both porcelain and stoneware clay bodies and includes the patterns which have now become a rewarding inspiration to her.
Mary Sullivan
Mary has always loved to draw and create from a young age. She took up sculpture in the 90's while living in the UK, and really enjoyed the 3D nature of it. She started working with clay when she moved back to Canada so she could have more permanent pieces. She now creates functional work, along with garden sculptures, but retains the sense of humour that she's always enjoyed when making pieces, combining her painting and drawing techniques with underglaze and clay.
Mary has always loved to draw and create from a young age. She took up sculpture in the 90's while living in the UK, and really enjoyed the 3D nature of it. She started working with clay when she moved back to Canada so she could have more permanent pieces. She now creates functional work, along with garden sculptures, but retains the sense of humour that she's always enjoyed when making pieces, combining her painting and drawing techniques with underglaze and clay.
Priya Harding
I’ve loved making pots since my first introduction to clay in the late 1970s, through a part-time course one winter, and sharing with the local potters of that time - Christine Burns, George Stewart, Scott Walker, and Pat Woods. While my children were young, I worked in my home studio, selling pieces on commission, by special order and in craft sales, and giving pottery workshops and lessons. After a fine career teaching in Peterborough schools, I returned to my first love, pottery. The potters of the Kawartha Potters Guild have encouraged and inspired me. Once again, I work out of my home studio. Producing mid-fire porcelain and stoneware functional ware, I use a range of coloured glazes, and for many pieces, clear-glazed brushwork colour on white.
I’ve loved making pots since my first introduction to clay in the late 1970s, through a part-time course one winter, and sharing with the local potters of that time - Christine Burns, George Stewart, Scott Walker, and Pat Woods. While my children were young, I worked in my home studio, selling pieces on commission, by special order and in craft sales, and giving pottery workshops and lessons. After a fine career teaching in Peterborough schools, I returned to my first love, pottery. The potters of the Kawartha Potters Guild have encouraged and inspired me. Once again, I work out of my home studio. Producing mid-fire porcelain and stoneware functional ware, I use a range of coloured glazes, and for many pieces, clear-glazed brushwork colour on white.
Rhonda Uppington
Rhonda grew up on a farm north of Lakefield where she enjoyed art classes in high school but opted to study science at the University of Guelph. Upon graduating, she worked as a biochemist in pharmaceutical research for 4 years before becoming a stay-at-home mom. Taking courses at the Haliburton School of the Arts during week-long vacations with her family, Rhonda learned the basics of relief and collagraph printmaking, mosaics, ceramic tile making and wheel-throwing. Combining printmaking techniques with ceramics allows her to enjoy both mediums simultaneously. The natural world influences her work, and leaves, flowers, birds and butterflies are recurring subjects. Rhonda became a studio member of the Pine Tree Potters’ Guild in the fall of 2014 and is enjoying the camaraderie and inspiration that the shared studio experience provides.
Rhonda grew up on a farm north of Lakefield where she enjoyed art classes in high school but opted to study science at the University of Guelph. Upon graduating, she worked as a biochemist in pharmaceutical research for 4 years before becoming a stay-at-home mom. Taking courses at the Haliburton School of the Arts during week-long vacations with her family, Rhonda learned the basics of relief and collagraph printmaking, mosaics, ceramic tile making and wheel-throwing. Combining printmaking techniques with ceramics allows her to enjoy both mediums simultaneously. The natural world influences her work, and leaves, flowers, birds and butterflies are recurring subjects. Rhonda became a studio member of the Pine Tree Potters’ Guild in the fall of 2014 and is enjoying the camaraderie and inspiration that the shared studio experience provides.
Amy Bell
I began working with clay after years of textile work, rug hooking and quilting. Elements of these traditional crafts can be found in my work. I make mainly utilitarian pieces, aimed at bringing handmade objects into daily use, honouring traditional "women's work." I have taken workshops from well known Ontario potters including Carolynne Pynn Trudeau, Anne Chambers, Cynthia O'Brien and others. I am a member of Gladstone Clayworks, an Ottawa based ceramics cooperative.
I began working with clay after years of textile work, rug hooking and quilting. Elements of these traditional crafts can be found in my work. I make mainly utilitarian pieces, aimed at bringing handmade objects into daily use, honouring traditional "women's work." I have taken workshops from well known Ontario potters including Carolynne Pynn Trudeau, Anne Chambers, Cynthia O'Brien and others. I am a member of Gladstone Clayworks, an Ottawa based ceramics cooperative.
Karina Bates
After being exposed to the craft of pottery in high school, it would be several decades before returning to something that has become a passion. I started taking lessons over ten years ago and have not looked back. I especially enjoy researching medieval pottery forms and decoration from around the world and bringing those shapes and images to life for modern functional use. Working on the wheel, my inspirations come from pre-seventeenth century pottery, architecture, metalwork and textiles. I love the look of old pottery and like a warm, antique feel in my work.
After being exposed to the craft of pottery in high school, it would be several decades before returning to something that has become a passion. I started taking lessons over ten years ago and have not looked back. I especially enjoy researching medieval pottery forms and decoration from around the world and bringing those shapes and images to life for modern functional use. Working on the wheel, my inspirations come from pre-seventeenth century pottery, architecture, metalwork and textiles. I love the look of old pottery and like a warm, antique feel in my work.
Emily Dore
I am an Ottawa-based ceramicist and instructor with a strong foundation in wheel-thrown functional ware. My making process is marked by a healthy respect for both technical skill and happy accident; I’m interested in that creative space where control butts up against chaos, where letting go becomes just as important as holding on. I make small-batch runs of functional ware, pieces made to flow with and elevate the rituals of daily life. My work with sculptural forms is a recent addition to my artistic practice and is concerned with organic forms like pods, gourds, and fungi, shapes and textures that often elicit strong reactions and straddle lines of attraction and repulsion, ripeness and decay.
I am an Ottawa-based ceramicist and instructor with a strong foundation in wheel-thrown functional ware. My making process is marked by a healthy respect for both technical skill and happy accident; I’m interested in that creative space where control butts up against chaos, where letting go becomes just as important as holding on. I make small-batch runs of functional ware, pieces made to flow with and elevate the rituals of daily life. My work with sculptural forms is a recent addition to my artistic practice and is concerned with organic forms like pods, gourds, and fungi, shapes and textures that often elicit strong reactions and straddle lines of attraction and repulsion, ripeness and decay.
Annie McDonald
I was born in Tacoma, Washington, studied at Trent University and have been making ceramics at my studio near Brighton, Ontario, since 2006. I call my practice “clay school” because the learning never ends. The Creative Directions Program has accelerated my growth in the ceramic arts. My sculpture typically begins with a minimal plan before embarking on a conversation with materials; I find that the materials talk back! My process with clay reflects the precarious and mutable nature of life – dealing with a growing historical awareness and accelerating rapidly towards change - layering up meaning at each stage of the making process. I enjoy a haptic approach to form making in terracotta, then paint, scrape and print with slips, inks and under glazes. Calligraphic and textural elements are placed to respond to preceding layers. I hope to share my excitement of the making with people who will live with my work; they can look into the surface to excavate meaning.
I was born in Tacoma, Washington, studied at Trent University and have been making ceramics at my studio near Brighton, Ontario, since 2006. I call my practice “clay school” because the learning never ends. The Creative Directions Program has accelerated my growth in the ceramic arts. My sculpture typically begins with a minimal plan before embarking on a conversation with materials; I find that the materials talk back! My process with clay reflects the precarious and mutable nature of life – dealing with a growing historical awareness and accelerating rapidly towards change - layering up meaning at each stage of the making process. I enjoy a haptic approach to form making in terracotta, then paint, scrape and print with slips, inks and under glazes. Calligraphic and textural elements are placed to respond to preceding layers. I hope to share my excitement of the making with people who will live with my work; they can look into the surface to excavate meaning.
Cathy Francis
Cathy is a Muskoka-based potter whose current work explores the creative process in sculptural form. Using throwing, altering and hand building techniques; and applying transfers, slips, and underglaze to the surface, she builds the parts that as a whole illustrate the ways in which influence, inspiration and place effect the evolution of a finished piece. Upon earning her Associate of OCA (1980) she entered the publishing and bookselling world. So many elements in building the award-winning Flying Dragon Bookshop both inspired and influenced her. These instilled a passion for how artists absorb and transform muses into their own work to create something new and unique. Twenty-five years later, she has immersed herself back into gaining technical ceramic skills by taking opportunities to study at the Metchosin International School of the Arts, and the Haliburton School of Art & Design and participating in a mentorship with Carol-Ann Michaelson.
Cathy is a Muskoka-based potter whose current work explores the creative process in sculptural form. Using throwing, altering and hand building techniques; and applying transfers, slips, and underglaze to the surface, she builds the parts that as a whole illustrate the ways in which influence, inspiration and place effect the evolution of a finished piece. Upon earning her Associate of OCA (1980) she entered the publishing and bookselling world. So many elements in building the award-winning Flying Dragon Bookshop both inspired and influenced her. These instilled a passion for how artists absorb and transform muses into their own work to create something new and unique. Twenty-five years later, she has immersed herself back into gaining technical ceramic skills by taking opportunities to study at the Metchosin International School of the Arts, and the Haliburton School of Art & Design and participating in a mentorship with Carol-Ann Michaelson.
Karla Rivera
Karla Rivera is a ceramic artist born and raised in Mexico City. After some travelling she moved to Hamilton Ontario. At this point she started to listen to her artistic voice and got involved in the world of ceramics. In 2015 she got she got her Ceramics Diploma from Sheridan College in the Craft and Design Program. After that she got the position Artist in residence in the Art Gallery of Burlington. While this happened she was chosen to participate in the Fusion program Creative Direction. Karla's work consists of functional and sculptural ceramics. She is interested in the forms that make the connections between the structures of nature such as the shape of an island and the emotional states of the human mind trying to interpret and project them.
Karla Rivera is a ceramic artist born and raised in Mexico City. After some travelling she moved to Hamilton Ontario. At this point she started to listen to her artistic voice and got involved in the world of ceramics. In 2015 she got she got her Ceramics Diploma from Sheridan College in the Craft and Design Program. After that she got the position Artist in residence in the Art Gallery of Burlington. While this happened she was chosen to participate in the Fusion program Creative Direction. Karla's work consists of functional and sculptural ceramics. She is interested in the forms that make the connections between the structures of nature such as the shape of an island and the emotional states of the human mind trying to interpret and project them.
June Goodwin
June was born in 1951 in Meppershall, England - a rural village listed in the Domesday book from 1063. June started her artistic career studying fashion in the UK and Fabric at S.O.C.A.D. When her fibre work become vessels she switch to Ceramics. She has taken numerous ceramic workshops in both Canada and the UK. She now works exclusively in clay, producing functional items for everyday use. June's current work is focused on surface design that uses addition and subtraction to create one of a kind surfaces. A member of and instructor for the Kawartha Potters Guild, she shows her work in the KPG Gallery, the annual Christmas show, and the biannual “ARTISANity” show held by the Artisans Centre. The Kawartha Lakes area of Ontario, Canada is where June now calls home. She lives in a small cottage on the shores of Pigeon Lake, and works out of her home studio.
June was born in 1951 in Meppershall, England - a rural village listed in the Domesday book from 1063. June started her artistic career studying fashion in the UK and Fabric at S.O.C.A.D. When her fibre work become vessels she switch to Ceramics. She has taken numerous ceramic workshops in both Canada and the UK. She now works exclusively in clay, producing functional items for everyday use. June's current work is focused on surface design that uses addition and subtraction to create one of a kind surfaces. A member of and instructor for the Kawartha Potters Guild, she shows her work in the KPG Gallery, the annual Christmas show, and the biannual “ARTISANity” show held by the Artisans Centre. The Kawartha Lakes area of Ontario, Canada is where June now calls home. She lives in a small cottage on the shores of Pigeon Lake, and works out of her home studio.
Jocelyn Jenkins
Jocelyn is an Ottawa potter who works out of her own studio in Old Ottawa South. She also runs the Firehall Pottery Studio where she has shared her love of clay with children of all ages for many years in her classes. The constant contact with the enthusiasm and energy of the young people in her classes is a source of inspiration in her own work.
Jocelyn is primarily a functional potter whose work can be seen several times a year in shows and sales in the Ottawa area. When she began, form was her primary focus in her thrown work. In recent years she has begun to push her forms to provide larger surfaces for decoration which permit her to give full reign to her love of painting and drawing. The incorporation of images in her work has given her new ways to connect with her audience and a much more direct way to create a narrative to draw people in.
Jocelyn is an Ottawa potter who works out of her own studio in Old Ottawa South. She also runs the Firehall Pottery Studio where she has shared her love of clay with children of all ages for many years in her classes. The constant contact with the enthusiasm and energy of the young people in her classes is a source of inspiration in her own work.
Jocelyn is primarily a functional potter whose work can be seen several times a year in shows and sales in the Ottawa area. When she began, form was her primary focus in her thrown work. In recent years she has begun to push her forms to provide larger surfaces for decoration which permit her to give full reign to her love of painting and drawing. The incorporation of images in her work has given her new ways to connect with her audience and a much more direct way to create a narrative to draw people in.
Wendy Hutchinson
As a part-time potter, Wendy is fully committed to her path and practise as a ceramic artisan. Her work in clay began in continuing education classes at Georgian College in Barrie, ON, with instruction from Roger Kerslake and Derek Martin. In 2014, she undertook a five-week self-directed residency at La Meridiana International School of Ceramics (Italy) with funding support from the Ontario Arts Council.
Currently, she works out of a shared studio at the Double Door Studios and Gallery in Anten Mills, ON, where her primary focus is in creating wheel-thrown functional pieces in high-fire English porcelain.
As a part-time potter, Wendy is fully committed to her path and practise as a ceramic artisan. Her work in clay began in continuing education classes at Georgian College in Barrie, ON, with instruction from Roger Kerslake and Derek Martin. In 2014, she undertook a five-week self-directed residency at La Meridiana International School of Ceramics (Italy) with funding support from the Ontario Arts Council.
Currently, she works out of a shared studio at the Double Door Studios and Gallery in Anten Mills, ON, where her primary focus is in creating wheel-thrown functional pieces in high-fire English porcelain.