Stacie Loftus

Creating with clay allows me to explore my fascination with shape, texture, and color. I find it rewarding to create functional pieces that people can hold, use, and connect with. I love seeing people who use my functional wares form a personal relationship with a piece whose shape, texture, and glaze is uniquely theirs. I utilize mid-range stoneware to create all my functional pottery from smaller coffee cups to larger vase forms. For items that are wheel thrown, the forms are allowed to dry to a leather hard stage before being inverted and trimmed. It is at this point, I add any additional texturizing, carving, or handles. From here the pieces are set aside to become bone dry. Once dry, forms are bisque-fired then subsequently glazed before being fired for a second final time. I will have examples of all stages of the working process and will demonstrate wheel throwing and hand building throughout the weekend. My non-functional work allows me to experiment with alternative forms and finishes, using alternative firing techniques including raku, sagger, obvara and pit-firing. Each of these pieces incorporate a bit of serendipity during the firings as no two are ever the same.