Collection: John Varner

"I have been working with clay for over 40 years. I learned to throw pots as a college student, went on to apprentice with a master potter, was a resident artisan at Arcosanti, and became an artist in residence at Millersville University in Pennsylvania. Life led me away from ceramics for 20 years, but since 1999, I have made pottery at Mudpie, a community clay studio at the Leverett Crafts & Arts, where I am a co-director. I enjoy both creating with clay as well as helping others to learn.

I specialize in porcelain, and focus on items you can use everyday - mugs, bowls, covered jars, etc.  Each piece is unique and crafted not to be 'too good to use', but to be good enough to use and appreciate.  Porcelain is at once both sensuous and especially challenging to work with.  The finished clay body is white, vitreous, even translucent when thin, giving glazes depth and brilliance.  The 2300 degree heat and dense, incandescent smoke of reduction firing allows for some interesting glaze effects.  I also work in stoneware, creating planters of various sizes, and unique Raku pieces."