The Artist
Posted by jennifer
A few years ago, I started praying, what’s next, Lord? Chris and Amy were grown, and I was getting too old to load Package Cars at UPS, and weary of trying to get my employees to load their Package Cars without my help. Although UPS had been very good to me, my husband, Van, generously let me retire. Thank you, Van.
One day, while pottery shopping, Bet Mangum, of Mangum Pottery in Sparta, NC (beautiful pottery, wonderful people, Bet and Rob), casually mentioned that she taught pottery workshops. After much prayer and encouragement from Van, I took a two day workshop from Bet and Rob. They taught me so well in those two days, and because of their encouragement, I never looked back. My mom bought me a wheel, Van bought me a kiln and built me a studio in the basement, and since then, I have been having the time of my life!!! Van got the fever and plays in the mud everytime he gets a chance. He is on the quest to make the perfect coffee mug!!
Ray Kaylor, of Mill Creek Pottery in Robbinsville, NC, answered many of my questions over the phone, thanks Ray. And a big thanks to Simon Leach, British Potter, living in Spain, for all of his How-To Videos on You Tube, they were very informative and inspiring!!! I am mostly grateful to Van for giving me this amazing gift of the freedom and time to become a potter, he always seemed to be able to see more in me than I could myself. My mom, and my sisters and brother, my kids, and friends have all helped me do this incredible, life changing thing, and I am so thankful to each and everyone of them. It takes a village to help me pick out clothes, and it took a village to make me a potter. It has all happened very quickly, miraculously, I think, as things can be when you are asking for God’s guidance.
Having been a huge fan of pottery, I am so thrilled to be making pottery myself. I have always loved working with my hands cross-stitching, knitting, water-coloring, quilting, cooking, or baking, any task I could do with my hands, I have loved…except house work, I haven’t loved housework. Pottery combines my love for colors, and textures, and MUD!!! I love MUD!!! I love participating in an art that you can hold in your hand, run your fingers along it’s form and shape, as you take in the beautiful colors with your eyes. I love participating in an art over which you don’t have complete control, the mud can have a mind of it’s own as I’m shaping it. Then the glazes can react differently together in the kiln, making each kiln opening as fun and exciting as opening Christmas presents.
How happy I am to call myself a potter!!!…..Jennifer Riga Manuel
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A few years ago, I started praying, what’s next, Lord? Chris and Amy were grown, and I was getting too old to load Package Cars at UPS, and weary of trying to get my employees to load their Package Cars without my help. Although UPS had been very good to me, my husband, Van, generously let me retire. Thank you, Van.