About

I have been a ceramist in my heart since my early childhood days when my mother was a ceramist and taught classes. I dabbled and worked with the clay enough to know that at some point I wanted to dabble more in life.

I graduated from college as an accountant and worked in this field for 56 years. However, when I was 45, I heard the calling of the clay again. Living in Indiana at the time, I enrolled in evening classes in the Fine Arts program at Indiana University Southeast.

That brings me forward to age 78. My wife and I now reside in the Loisville area. The scent of the wet clay in my nostrils and the feel of wet clay between my hands while centering and forming it the wheel, are best described as a passion that keeps pulling me back to the mud.

Many efforts, many mistakes, and new adventures of my pottery passion continues on and on to the next pot. There is never a bad pot. Every piece, even the mistakes, continue to teach me more and more.

My teacher at IUS, John Guenther, gave us two pottery rules:

1. It’s only dirt. Don’t fall in love with it. If there is a mistake, wad the clay up and start over. Don’t just settle for whatever.
2. Leave your area cleaner than it was when you started. If you work in a clean area, you will make a more productive pot.

I continue on……

I hope you enjoy my gallery and perhaps would like to own one of my pieces.

Jim Brodfehrer