Roger has a passion for pottery, sculpture and music. He is now retired and can spend his time as he pleases. Much of that time is used creating the beautiful pieces you can see in the Marble Rim Gallery. He still uses techniques that he learned in college so many years ago where he studied Art and Music. 

Creating a form takes strength, patience and experience.
Roger's home studio features his pottery wheel, the clay, an assortment of glaze options, texture tools, finished pieces, unfired pieces, two brick downdraft ovens and a good selection of jazz as well as other well composed auditory joys. 

His two downdraft ovens are somewhat interchangeable but their use depends on the size of the pottery and the number of pieces he is firing. It's important to bring the temperature up slowly so that the moisture in the clay can escape before it cooks. The size of the chamber will have an effect on the consistency of temperature around the clay as well, so if a piece is too close to the wall of the oven, the side close to the wall will stay cooler and create inconsistent moisture release, causing failure. If there is any moisture still residing in the clay before it is fully fired, water pockets will expand and create cracks or even explosions. Much care and diligence must be taken. 

​Here we can see a crack from such an issue. This piece will be reclaimed... or should I say reclaymed... by soaking it in water with other pieces. Reclaimed clay works as well as fresh clay but the moisture content must be right. Roger dries his outside but has to keep a close eye on it. Siskiyou county is an especially arid climate. 

Roger keeps busy so there's always something new in the Gallery. Come down to see what's available!