Ceramics with an eye for design
Every piece here is one-of-a-kind, hand-built and glazed in my studio. These works are vessels of function and some playful mystery. Here are ritual objects, daily companions, and strange familiars. You’ll find work with finishes that feel satisfying in the hand and are pleasing to the eye.
Put a Monsterpot in your kitchen and instantly your day gets more exciting and curious. Smile mischievously when you hand your guests an eyeball mug full of tea. Surprise your dear one with a special and unique gift. Pottery with personality becomes like a treasured family member whose daily presence is a source of comfort.
A cohort of monsterpots is made from a single block of clay.
After drying a few weeks, they gestate in the kiln for about 13 hours at 1900 deg F. Then they’re given their multilayered coat of glaze and back into the kiln they go for a second firing period of 8 hours. There, they’ll be subjected to temperatures of 2200 deg F. This will mature the stoneware to the desired hardness and give them their colorful and glossy surfaces. No two are alike even if they’re made to be part of a cohort. Sometimes I’m asked if I use a mold to make these and the answer is no— I handbuild them, one by one, from slabs.
I like to give them old-fashioned names although I’m drawn to all kinds of beautiful names from all over the world. (Want to suggest an unusual name? — has to be one I haven’t used before!) There are now approximately 450 monsterpots out in the world...
I make my glazes by mixing dry materials from a formula and then I fire each of them on test tiles to be sure the glaze is a good fit for my clay. The interiors of pots and mugs are food grade and safe. Mugs are microwave friendly and dishwasher safe but the Monsterpots should be washed by hand.
CURRENTLY IN THE KEST POTTERY SHOP
Ooooh~ New ware with new glaze colors! Thanks for stopping by!
PS: I quickly ran out of my “little extras” but will have new goodies when I can fill and run the kiln again in a few weeks.
Thank you for buying handmade art! xo
“I have some cool ceramics, but this piece might be the Barbarian that has ascended to the seat of the golden throne!”
~Michael