Pottery in Port Hope --
by Susan McDonald!
by Susan McDonald!
| Practically Potty Studio |
Practically Potty Studio is located just outside of Port Hope, Ontario a country block north of Welcome... It's a great place to live and pot! |
Would you like to be a practically potty potter? If you are interested in playing in clay, if you would like to throw, or build articles for friends and family, if you'd like to get your hands mucky and your clothes ruined, then you might be the newest member of our practically potty pottery family! Click on "About the Studio" button for all of the information you need to join in! |
About Susan:
Susan McDonald is a full time potter who has been working with clay for over eight years. Before she was smitten by clay she worked
with watercolors and inks, and has continued to show her work in watercolor and ink as well.
She produces functional "one-of-a-kind" teapots with the occasional foray into larger pieces such as wall mounted installations, large
bowls, and urns. Each piece is an original design and Susan makes all of her own glazes to achieve the finish to suit each piece.
She is also specializing in urns suitable for ashes and she can provide you with a catalogue of these items or will produce something
specific if you have a request.
Susan studied pottery with Edwin Longueville for four years, and has carried on in the 'self-taught' tradition of experimentation with clay
bodies and glazes on her own.
She has also taken workshops through Fusion (The Ontario Clay and Glass Association), the Potters Council, and the Kawartha Potters
Guild. She continues to challenge herself with ongoing study of both form and function. She is a member of Fusion, the Ontario Craft
Council, and the Potters Council of the American Ceramic Society.
Susan feels that working (and playing) with clay is an exciting exploration -- that coming to understand one form just moves her onto the
next -- and that pottery is one of the best practical ways to learn loving detachment! There are no guarantees in pottery. Getting
attached to a piece is the best way to create your own suffering. But, oh, the bliss when a lovely piece of art emerges from the kiln!
The best comment Susan has ever received about one of her teapots is, "You have changed the way I drink tea, the whole process of
thinking about making tea has changed since I started to use your beautiful little celadon teapot!" (Karma Chime Wongmo)
Susan creates each one of her teapots as a work of fine art that encourages touch, that leaves a lingering sense of joy and peace, and
helps you be still as you enjoy both your tea and your pot. She has been told that her teapots "look so happy!" What a great way to
start and finish your day ...
Susan McDonald is a full time potter who has been working with clay for over eight years. Before she was smitten by clay she worked
with watercolors and inks, and has continued to show her work in watercolor and ink as well.
She produces functional "one-of-a-kind" teapots with the occasional foray into larger pieces such as wall mounted installations, large
bowls, and urns. Each piece is an original design and Susan makes all of her own glazes to achieve the finish to suit each piece.
She is also specializing in urns suitable for ashes and she can provide you with a catalogue of these items or will produce something
specific if you have a request.
Susan studied pottery with Edwin Longueville for four years, and has carried on in the 'self-taught' tradition of experimentation with clay
bodies and glazes on her own.
She has also taken workshops through Fusion (The Ontario Clay and Glass Association), the Potters Council, and the Kawartha Potters
Guild. She continues to challenge herself with ongoing study of both form and function. She is a member of Fusion, the Ontario Craft
Council, and the Potters Council of the American Ceramic Society.
Susan feels that working (and playing) with clay is an exciting exploration -- that coming to understand one form just moves her onto the
next -- and that pottery is one of the best practical ways to learn loving detachment! There are no guarantees in pottery. Getting
attached to a piece is the best way to create your own suffering. But, oh, the bliss when a lovely piece of art emerges from the kiln!
The best comment Susan has ever received about one of her teapots is, "You have changed the way I drink tea, the whole process of
thinking about making tea has changed since I started to use your beautiful little celadon teapot!" (Karma Chime Wongmo)
Susan creates each one of her teapots as a work of fine art that encourages touch, that leaves a lingering sense of joy and peace, and
helps you be still as you enjoy both your tea and your pot. She has been told that her teapots "look so happy!" What a great way to
start and finish your day ...
| Curriculum Vitae Susan E. McDonald Practically Potty Studio 4166, R.R. #3 Port Hope, Ontario L1A3V7 www.practicallypotty.com practicallypottystudio@yahoo.ca PH: 905-753-2731 Galleries & Juried Shows: 2009 “By Hand” show, Toronto, Ontario “One of a Kind Show,” Toronto, Ontario Shepherd’s Well Pottery Gallery, Bobcaygeon, Ontario Kohl Gallery of Arts, Toronto, Ontario Journey Through the Arts Gallery, Port Hope, Ontario Northumberland Art Gallery, Port Hope, Ontario Ganaraska Studio Tour, Spring 2009 2008 “Big Fish, Small Teapot” International Competition, San Francisco, U.S.A “Global Positioning/ China,” show at the Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute, Jingdezhen, China, and became part of a permanent collection there. Funktional Art and Design, 3 Corey Street PO Box 158, Bloomfield, Ontario Kohl Gallery of Arts, 282 Eglinton Avenue West, Toronto ON A.K. Collings Gallery Fine Art & Contemporary Crafts, 41 John StreetPort Hope, Ontario The Grocer's Gallery, 19 Colborne St., Fenelon Falls, Ontario Journey Through the Arts Gallery, Port Hope, Ontario Northumberland Art Gallery, Port Hope, Ontario Northumberland Hills Studio Tour, Fall 2008 Pottery Supply House 50th Year Anniversary Calendar, “Teapot Meditation,” used for the month of December. Potters Market, Guelph, Ontario Kawartha Potters Guild, Spring Show, Peterborough Kawartha Potters Guild, Christmas Show, Peterborough Susan E. McDonald 2007 Fusion Design Award for installation “Teapot Meditation, 108 Teapots,” Distill Cup, Distill Gallery, Toronto Fawn Ceramics and Gallery, Historic Distillery District, April 14 to May 16, 55 Mill Street, Case Goods WarehouseBuilding 74, Studio 112, Toronto, Kawartha Potters Guild Spring Show. Peterborough Kawartha Potters Guild Juried Exhibition, Art Gallery of Northumberland Lions Art Show & Sale, Cobourg Waterfront Festival, Cobourg Peterborough Art Gallery Gift Shop Where I Fell In Love Gallery, Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire, England Northumberland Hills Studio Tour, Fall 2009 2006 Ganaraska Art Studio, Solo Show, Port Hope, Ontario Second Storey Art Gallery, Port Hope, Ontario Lions Art Show & Sale, Cobourg Waterfront Festival 2005 The Heart of Art Show, Port Hope, Ont. Experience: Opened pottery and fine art studio with teaching space in Summer, 2005. Ongoing teaching program with adult and teen-aged students in the studio – pottery & fine art. Teaching part-time at Durham College, Oshawa, introduction to pottery for the Foundations for Art & Design Program. Opened a home-based independent practice of healing modalities in 1995. Opened first retail outlet in 1996 in downtown Port Hope. Expanded in 1997 to larger facilities incorporating retail and practice under one roof, including other practitioners and a naturopathic physician. Expanded further in 1999 and purchased a building with larger teaching facilities, treatment rooms, and enhanced retail space. Prior to 1995: 3 years with the Ontario Legislature, ExecutiveAssistant to the Parliamentary Assistant for Municipal Affairs (1-1/2 years), and Administrative Assistant to Member of Parliament (1-1/2 years) 3 years with Durham Social Services 6 years with York University List of previous employers available Education: Bachelor of Arts, York University, Toronto, Canada, 1988 Doctor of Naturopathy, Clayton School of Natural Healing, Alabama, U.S., 1995 Chartered Herbalist, Dominion Herbal College, Vancouver, British Columbia, 1999 Master Herbalist, Dominion Herbal College, Vancouver, British Columbia, 2004 Workshop and teaching experience in pottery: Part-time instructor for Durham College, Foundations: Art & Design Ceramics In Studio: Practical pottery Hand-building with clay Creating angels with clay Imprinting with clay Clay as a medium for multiple prints Workshop and teaching experience in other modalites: Watercolor basics Explorations in form, function and color Print making with clay Introduction to Aromatherapy Aromatherapy massage course Aromatherapy practitioners course The Practical Herbalist Meditation Basic Relaxation Drum Making |
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