KENT HARRIS: The Potter
I am a full-time studio potter in Amarillo, TX. My wife, Megan Easley, and I are the owners of Blue Sage Pottery & Art Gallery located on W. Sixth Ave., part of historic Route 66, as it runs through the Texas Panhandle. Megan is a talented artist who makes pottery, paintings and drawings. Both of our artwork are displayed in our gallery along with other artist's work.
My love of pottery began when I took a clay class in high school, but my college courses really fueled the fire. I studied ceramics with Elmer Taylor at the University of North Texas who inspired and challenged me to reach deep within myself and become the best potter I can possibly be. I credit him with fueling my interest in functional pots and earthy glazes. I returned to the Texas Panhandle in 2002 and completed my B.F.A. degree in Ceramics and Glass at West Texas A&M University. Today I work in our spacious studio in Amarillo, TX. pursuing my love of stoneware pottery, ash glazes and natural gas firing. I also travel often to give ceramic workshops, attend art festivals and participate in group and solo exhibitions.
My process of making the pots:
The process of making pottery is thousands of years old. I connect myself to the ancient traditions of pot making by the many processes I used. I throw pots on an English style Treadle Wheel that is foot propelled. It has a slow rythmical revolution that lends itself to soft, natural pots. I throw on the potter's wheel to create a piece that has beauty and will stand the test of time.
After the pot is created on the wheel it must be allowed to dry before being fired to 1850F in a bisque firing. After the bisque firing the piece is glazed. My process of glazing employs a combination of wood ash glazes, local slip clays, iron and ochers. Using local materials, wood ashes and a variety of clays for glazes gives my pots a superior quality that cannot be created by any other method. I have done thousands of glaze tests to find the glazes that I use today. The processes and materials I use let my art be in true harmony with the earth. All of my work is finished by firing it in a brick gas-fueled kiln to 2400F in a reduction atmosphere, which fuses the glaze to the clay body.
My pots are dishwasher, microwave and oven safe (just preheat with pot in oven) and lead free. All of my work is made by the highest standards and should provide years of enjoyment. Perhaps some of them will still be around thousands of years from now.