Jim Shea

Jim Shea

Why would anyone choose clay as a medium?

The work cycle is long with many potential points of failure at each step. The equipment is expensive and takes up a lot of space. Clay is stubborn and will warp, crack or just fail all along the process. If glazes are too thin or too thickly applied, a piece can be ugly or the glaze can run and stick to the shelf.

I’ve developed glazes that fail spectacularly if they’re not applied/fired/combined just right. Pieces defy gravity and slump if I’m not careful.

But when things go just right and everything works the adrenaline rush is amazing. That’s why I do what I do.

I should add that I’ve been doing this for 30+ years and am really happy with the current state of my practice, I’ve figured out ways to embrace this chaos and skirt the edge of failure to get what I want more often than not.

On a more mundane level, I work primarily with porcelain unless the glaze works better with stoneware. I think of myself as primarily a functional potter, but I make forays into "just art". I make and develop my own glazes utilizing chemistry and artistry to achieve the surface and color I want. I’ve made approaching 1,000 tests to refine my glazes.
Email: jim@sheapottery.com
Website: www.sheapottery.com