Clay on 4th

ABOUT US

Our Art

Meet Dale

Dale Atchison

When you hear that old saying ”I wasn’t looking for it, it found me” holds true about how we started in this adventure.

I started out like most, my wife and I found a local rec center offering classes in wheel thrown pottery. At first I thought it was fun and entertaining, all of my pots were off center too thick and resembled something that you might find in an elementary school art class. After a few classes, I was finding that there was something therapeutic when I was on the wheel — I found a Zen feeling came over me, relaxation — I could concentrate to make the perfect piece.

So we stuck with the once a week classes, and I soon bought an old kick wheel and put it in the garage. I was on that wheel for hours and hours, finding new ways to form a wet lump of clay. After a year or so of throwing bowls, plates, cups and planters, we decided to up our game with an artistic approach to pottery.

We found a RAKU pottery class at the rec center, and it changed the way we looked at ceramics forever. RAKU firings are an ancient form of quick firing ceramic vessels with a copper laden glaze. RAKU is considered an art form because of how it is fired and the way we can manipulate the colors in the glazes. It literally takes years to learn the intricate nuances to RAKU firings. We continue to work on our art as we discover new and exciting ways to present this ancient form of pottery.

Meet Jill

Jill atchison

I have always been an artist. When I decided to go to art school before going to College it was the turning point to unlock the creativity. I have always been a jack of all trades, but once I got my hand in clay there was no turning back.

We have been doing fine art shows for the past eight years. We have settled down in Loveland, Colorado, opened a new studio and plan to retire here and continue to prefect our craft and involvement in the art community.

My husband and I started taking classes to prefect our craft. We really were drawn to the outcome of RAKU the unpredictable surprise of what came out of the kiln was such a challenge to try to control and or make it come out predictable. We began to move outside the traditional box and started to make all of our own glazes and firing schedules, collaborating together to create what we have today. As a team we have the power and fanese combine with the creativity and experimental aptitude to emulate the textures andimages of nature.

We have been doing fine art shows for the past eight years. We have settled down in Loveland, Colorado, opened a new studio and plan to retire here and continue to prefect our craft and involvement in the art community.

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