Pottery is a craft that teaches patience, accepts imperfection, and rewards persistence. At Balanced Elements Pottery, each piece I create represents this ongoing journey of discovery and growth. Whether you're drawn to the intricate carving of sgraffito designs or the subtle beauty of layered glazes, you're invited to share in this celebration of handcrafted creativity.
For 25 years, clay has been my constant companion on a journey of creativity and discovery. What began as a way to find balance in a busy healthcare career has evolved into Balanced Elements Pottery - a place where art meets function, and where each piece carries its own story. The meditative quality of working with clay provides a unique form of creative expression that continues to inspire and challenge me every day.
The beauty of pottery lies in its endless potential for growth and learning. Each piece teaches something new, whether it's understanding how different glazes interact or discovering a new carving technique. This continuous evolution keeps the craft exciting and allows me to bring fresh perspectives to every creation.
Working with clay brings a special kind of peace - a state where time seems to slow down and creativity flows naturally. In these moments, whether I'm carving intricate sgraffito designs into leather-hard clay, exploring new combinations of Amaco, Mayco, and Coyote glazes, building pieces by hand using traditional techniques, creating functional forms that enhance daily rituals, or developing unique surface textures through various tools and methods, each moment in the studio becomes an opportunity to learn and grow, to push boundaries while respecting traditional techniques.
The world of glazing opens up endless possibilities for creativity. My work incorporates carefully selected Amaco glazes known for their depth and reliability, vibrant Mayco options that add character to each piece, rich Coyote glazes that create unique surface effects, custom combinations that make each piece unique, and layering techniques that develop depth and interest. Understanding glaze chemistry and behavior has been a fascinating part of my journey. Each firing brings new insights into how different glazes interact, flow, and develop their final character.
My current focus includes refined sgraffito carving techniques that tell visual stories, handbuilding methods that create unique, functional forms, precise slab rolling for consistent, quality results, surface texturing that adds tactile interest, and glaze layering that creates depth and visual appeal.
Every piece begins with intention and develops through several thoughtful stages: initial design conception and sketching, careful clay preparation and wedging, mindful forming and shaping, patient drying and trimming, detailed surface decoration, precise glaze application, and professional firing at cone 6.
Balanced Elements Pottery represents more than just a pottery business - it's a philosophy of creating with purpose and joy. Each piece reflects a commitment to continuous learning, the beauty of artistic exploration, the importance of functional design, the value of creative growth, and the peace found in mindful creation.
As part of my commitment to sharing this journey, you can find Balanced Elements Pottery across various platforms: website updates showing recent work, Instagram shares of studio moments, Facebook connections with our growing community, and YouTube glimpses into the creative process.
As my journey continues, I remain focused on developing new skills and techniques, exploring creative possibilities, creating functional pieces that bring joy, sharing the beauty of handmade pottery, and growing as an artist and creator.
One of the most rewarding aspects of pottery is seeing pieces find homes where they'll be cherished and used. Each creation represents hours of dedicated craftsmanship, careful attention to detail, thoughtful design choices, artistic expression, and a piece of my creative journey.
For orders and questions, please call me, Angela Magill, at 716-417-7544. Or send me an email.
