: Brenda Neall - Viewing Profile

Several years ago, after a long time of being a collector and admirer of handcrafted pottery, I became interested in learning more about the making of the wares I loved to collect — the alchemy that would transform dirt into pots. This led me to our local Arts Centre where I began to take pottery classes. I was hooked! The fwump, fwump, fwump rhythm of the kick wheel, the ‘dug from the earth’ smell of the clay, the wonder of seeing the walls of a pot rise from a lump of clay, the Christmas morning excitement of seeking out my finished pieces, all resonated deeply within me.

My educational journey continued with me signing up for Ceramics and other Fine Arts classes at our local university college and attending as many ceramic related workshops as I could. At the end of my time at school, I came to realize that I still had much to learn and that my education as a potter would never end.

A couple of years ago we moved from the big city to my hometown of Powell River, a small coastal community in southwestern BC, Canada, where we have built my studio including a small retail showroom. My first love is making wheel–thrown pottery, producing functional wares that can be used in all areas of the home. Occasionally I diverge into using hand–building and mold–making techniques, including molds for a line of tiles inspired by the nearby ocean and seashore. My wonder and enthusiasm for the making of handcrafted pottery and ceramic art continues to this day.