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The Potter
Beth Willoughby I'm a stoneware potter. After taking classes for several years at the Brooklyn Center Community Center, I decided that I wanted to do this more than once a week! I set up a studio at my home in Elk River, Minnesota and it is equipped with two wheels and a kiln, so I have everything I need. While I enjoy sharing my 'artwork' with others, what I enjoy even more is sharing my enjoyment of the PROCESS of making pottery. That's why I decided to focus on classes. My years as an elementary music teacher give me a comfort with working with children. I prefer making unique items rather than mass productions. I enjoy making fountains, wind chimes, leaf reproductions (you'll often see leaf designs on my work), animal-ornamented pots, mugs with unique decorations and handles, plates, jingle bells, and just about anything else that seems fun! Both of my wheels are customized Lockerbie model EK. It's a wonderfully smooth and capable wheel. The electric motor allows me to offer more people an experience throwing on the wheel. The kick wheel is still my preference, but for people with limited leg abilities (too short, weak, sore, whatever!) or simply a preference for it, the electric assist has been wonderful! One of the most time-consuming processes is just that: processing the clay to make it ready for use, then reprocessing the scraps into re-usable clay. To help me with this is a BlueBird PUGMILL. Instead of hours of throwing, kneeding, wedging, and rolling I can do more creating!
What do you think? I'd love to hear your comments on my work! Organizations to which I've donated pottery or classes: First Congregational UCC Church of Anoka Union Congregational UCC Church of Elk River Friends of the Oliver H Kelley Farm (Elk River) Church of the Brethren Michigan District Camping Program (Michigan) Land Of Lakes ChoirBoys (Elk River) Command Performance Girls Choir (Elk River) Emma Norton Services (St Paul) |
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