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Potters John Garland and
Mary Paul of Freechild Studio are excited to
introduce you to their unique style of
ceramic art. John and Mary create individual
and collaborative clay works that are
colorful, artistic and often whimsical.
Their earthenware pottery is alive with
pattern, design and vibrant color inspired
by nature and figurative forms. “Our
functional pottery is dishwasher and oven
safe and free of any toxic glaze chemicals.” What is our process? Our
low fire pottery is thrown or hand built,
dried and bisque fired. Bisque firing makes
the ware strong enough to receive glaze. The
intense hues that cover our pots are the
result of under glazes painstakingly applied
using needlepoint bottles and lots of
patience. Each original design is drawn
directly onto the pot. When the design is
complete, the work is fired a second time to
set the underglaze colors. After this second
firing, three coats of clear glaze are
brushed over the color. The piece is fired a
third time at a higher temperature to melt
the clear glaze. The completed work is
smooth, shiny and vitreous. |
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Our technique
has evolved based upon our many
explorations with clay bodies,
glazes and firing methods. Over
the years, John and Mary have
worked in a variety of ceramic
styles including Majolica and
high-fired stoneware. Surface
decoration and color have always
been a passion for John while
Mary enjoys exploring the
potential of hand-built forms.
Their individual styles have
brought them to the perfect
collaboration of form and
surface. We also work
in cone 10 Porcelain. John feels
compelled to work in several
styles to satisfy his need for
developing color and design at
all temperature ranges. John
began studying pottery making in
North Carolina in the mid
eighties. He attended classes at
Montgomery Tech, Penland School
and the NC State Craft Center as
well as apprenticing with
several state potters. Mary,
originally from Wisconsin,
studied pottery making in
Milwaukee at Alverno College
where she focused on creating
art pieces in stoneware. |
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A workshop at Arrowmont
Craft School brought Mary to the south and
to John, another perfect collaboration. John
Garland and Mary Paul have shown their work
in North Carolina and in Wisconsin at
galleries, shops and art fairs. They both
agree, “We love making pots and we want our
work to make you smile.” |
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