Meeting Jack Troy

From left to right- Michael Kline, Peter Lenzo, Jack Troy, Samantha Henneke, Bruce Gholson

This past Sunday I had the pleasure of going to Bulldog Pottery in Seagrove for the third annual Cousins in Clay.

Bulldog Pottery's work

The crystals on this piece were rather fascinating!

This is the underside of one of Bulldog Pottery's lidded dishes. I thought the detail and attention to the foot and decoration beneath the piece was great!

Their guest this year was Jack Troy. As I have told many people, birders have a life list of birds they hope to see, I have a life list of potters I hope to meet. Jack Troy is one of those potters, or should I say, was one of those potters!

Jack Troy, looking pleasantly captivated.

Jack Troy's pitchers, what splendor!

I asked Jack about his recommendations for making good handles. He said it was important to think about handles like arms or legs, or the parts of plants where leaves are attached. The joint where the two meet, or where the leg attaches to the torso-- it is thick at the joint, and then it gets thinner from the joint.

Oh, look at that handle!

Not only did I like this Jack Troy mug body, but the handle felt especially good

I especially enjoyed Jack Troy's bottles which he stamped at the neck and fired in his wood kiln. The flashing and ash on the bottles was spectacular. I wanted to take them all home! We joked about how bottles always seem to be in good company with one another, I definitely think this is true!

Jack Troy's bottles

It was also a pleasure to finally meet Michael Kline. We had a great conversation about archaeology and historic pottery. I especially appreciated picking his brain about local clay mining and processing. Speaking of archaeology, Peter Lenzo had some of his work there, and I was fascinated by the sherds on many of the pieces, sadly, I did not get a chance to talk with him about his work!

Michael Kline's work

Michael also demonstrated his painting techniques and talked about the slips he uses.

Michael Kline demonstrating

Thank you Samantha Henneke and Bruce Gholson at Bulldog Pottery for hosting such a great event!