Madd Mud Pottery

Madd Mud was established in June of 2011. For many years I had been taking ceramic courses through a variety of studios in Calgary. My biggest influence in throwing on the wheel came from Joann at "Feats of Clay" Pottery studio. My husband and I have a vacation property in Eureka, Montana. There is a wonderful art gallery in Eureka owned and run by... my friend Clover Kincheloe called "The Silver Fish Gallery". I go there every chance I get. It is such an inspiring place to shop. Especially for Raku fish! She's been selling them for years. One day I had asked Clover to e-mail a picture of the fish so that I could have Joann teach me how to make them. I was never one for "functional pottery". I call myself a dysfunctional potter! I was always straying away from the "coffee mug" and "honey pot" and making all kinds of crazy stuff which involved a lot of sculpture. My fish turned out o.k. but nowhere near as cute as the real deal. I in turn e-mailed a picture of them to Clover for a bit of a laugh. Who knew such a fun little exercise was about to change my life? It probably wasn't even a couple of months after that e-mail when Clover sent me an e-mail telling me that the owners of Mountain River Arts were retiring and looking for someone to buy the business so the fish could "Live on"! I was on a plane the next week heading to Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands. Rick Ellsworth and Paula Kenworthy greeted me with open arms. For many days and nights they trained me in all facets of the business from throwing, eyeball and finning, glazing and Rakuing.Read More