I got involved in pottery when Sandy signed us up for a beginning pottery class at the local community college in 1992. We both loved it! We had a wonderful teacher named Clay Horton who really emphasized mastering the technique of throwing. We bought a wheel for home and continued to throw at both the school and at home and did all our firing at the school for quite a few years. Sandy kept with it for half a dozen years or so then moved on to sewing while I continued to work at the school for about ten years. When we built the house in 1997, we built a small pottery studio as part of the workshop. A couple years ago I installed an electric kiln and built a large spray booth. I have been working entirely from my home studio since 2001.

Mike throwing in the studio	Mike adding detail to a pot	Making platters

 

Over the years I have tried many different kinds of pottery and many different firing techniques from raku to cone 10 stoneware. While my goal is not to become a full time professional potter, I do sell most of my work at local arts and craft fairs.

Saggar pots from 1993	Mike's pots at local arts & crafts fair	Pots from the 1990's

 

Currently, I focus primarily on decorative pieces and I throw a wide range of vases, jars, bowls, and platters. Most of my work is stoneware although I do occasionally throw porcelain. I developed and mix all my own glazes and fire to cone 6 in oxidation. My style has been influenced by pottery from Greece, Asia, and the American Southwest. I really enjoy creating large pieces and routinely throw pots from 25 pounds or more of wet clay. Unfortunately my current kiln limits the largest pot I can fire to about 27 inches. Someday I hope to go back to making really big stuff and I have some ideas for several neat large garden sculptures. To see more of my pottery please visit my web site at Michael Stoy Pottery.

Current work in cone 6 oxidation

 

All images on this page are © Michael Stoy

 

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