I have been a high school history teacher all my professional life—two years at Darlington School and forty-one years at Baylor. I retired in the spring of 2012. I began doing pottery in about 1990 as a hobby. I had quit smoking, and my wife gave me pottery lessons with a friend who had just begun as well because she thought it would give me something to do with my hands. I fell in love with working with clay, and I have been practicing and learning ever since. My friend, with whom I worked for several years got involved with a school in Haiti, and I have given all proceeds from my pottery work to support that school.

I am not professionally trained, so I have nothing eloquent to say about the aesthetics of my craft that I learned during my academic studies. Simply, I really enjoy the process of making pottery, especially throwing. It is relaxing and inspiring to see the piece taking shape during the making. There are an infinitude of possible shapes even in making practical ware as I do. It is easy to forget the ills of the world while sitting at the wheel.

Many do not understand that pottery is two completely different processes, throwing and decorating, especially glazing. Glazing is a very chemistry-centered process; getting really good, making your own glazes, experimenting with application is effectively a full-time job. I must admit that although I have taken workshops in glazing, I use commercial glazes for my pots. This is the bane of having a full-time job while learning the craft. Even so, I have done a good deal of experimenting with my glazes and get a lot of satisfaction when something works.

Perhaps the most pleasure comes in seeing someone use and enjoy something I have made. I will continue potting as long as I am able.

I began doing pottery as a hobby in the 1990’s, but after retirement, it has grown to occupy more of my life. The person who gave me my first lessons those many years ago was the prime mover in building and maintaining a school in Petite Riviere, Haiti. For that reason, everything I make from pottery goes to support that school. The school has had great success and grown to a full K through high school. Some of its graduates go on to college—very unusual for Haiti. For more information visit americanhaitianfoundation.org or visit the Facebook page of the American Haitian Foundation.