Two Ships Pottery

Pumpkin Luminaries! I'm troubleshooting some issues with my kiln and those have led to my pumpkins coming out more yellow than orange like they did last year, but they're still super cute! I'm hoping to have some up on the website within the next week. Each pumpkin will come as a set with items to help you creates the perfect autumnal/spooky atmosphere 🎃 Stay tuned!

Stash jars for stashing! At markets I get asked what to do with these, and between you and me, I sometimes struggle with not just kind of staring dumbly. But anyway, here're some ideas for how to use a jar!

Use them for collecting things that'd either get lost in a drawer or that you don't want others to notice right away. Some specific ideas include storing small items like cuange, valuables, jewelry, or even toys on a side table or bathroom vanity; keeping herb, smokeware, & vapes concealed in your living room; holding treasured keepsakes and mementos of travels & loved ones; holding salt or sugar in your kitchen; etc! The list goes on. What would you use yours for?

Catch me and these amazing vases outside in Charlotte's NoDa district for the NoDa Bizarre! Find me at the Johnston YMCA Yard from 3-8 pm. !

Next Saturday, we're serving mug at the Johnston YMCA in NoDa for the NoDa Bizarre from 3-8 PM. See you there!
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Catch me August 3rd - 3-8 PM at NoDa Bizarre! Looking forward to seeing you out and about!
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What does this remind you of?
Hummingbird palette, with vibrant pops of teal, pink, and lime green. Contemporarily retro. Get yours at TwoShipsPottery.com
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This Saturday at 11AM EST, head to TwoShipsPottery.com to check out the awesome new designs I've been working on! All brand new planters, mugs, and vases in three fantastic colorways: Kingfisher (pictured), Hummingbird, and Blue Jay. Can't wait to show y'all!
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🎆Happy 4th! Let's celebrate by remembering this country is made up of diverse people who ALL deserve the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

I've got a drop of new planters, mugs, and vases coming soon. Enjoy the preview 😁
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Have your kids jump into summer fun, mindfulness, and creativity with us on June 28th for our Mindful Mixer, an engaging children's event series that will get your kids moving and engaged. Registration link in bio!

This is a special event designed to combine fun, creativity, and mindfulness! Here’s what we have planned:
Jungle Yoga Flow with Kerry

   Kerry, a pediatric occupational therapist and yoga teacher, will lead an engaging Jungle Yoga Flow, perfect for kids to move and explore.

Tiger Face Planters with Ari 

   Ari, an educator and ceramic artist, will guide the children in creating their own tiger face planters, sparking their creativity and giving them a unique keepsake.

Jungle Dance Party with Ashley 

   Ashley, a physical therapist assistant, yoga teacher, and dance educator, will host a lively Jungle Dance Party that will get everyone moving and having a blast!

Date: June 28th

Time: 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Location: Urban District Market

Early Bird Price: $45 until the week of the event! $55 week of, so register now!

After the mixer, families are welcome to stay for a free movie on the green space or enjoy the food and play areas at Urban District Market

This event is designed for children ages 4-12 and promises to be a fantastic evening of mindful fun. Spots are limited, so sign up soon to ensure your child doesn't miss out!

We hope to see you and your child there!

Lazy Sunday morning vibes with a cup of coffee and sunshine

A simple little cylindrical planter I gave to Tris this Christmas. I really enjoyed this graphic, energetic surface design that contrasts the simplicity of the form, very well. A simple stripe of glossy black to act as a focal point bring it all together, while a yellow glaze compliments the warm tones of the raw clay.

This was actually part of the first draft of the bookends I made for my sister, Rachel, but a thick student piece blew up in the kiln, leaving only this cylinder salvageable. Though I love the refined second draft, which I posted earlier, I think I prefer the underglaze on this raw buff clay, as opposed to the white undercoat I have on the bookends.

Leave me a comment and tell me which you prefer. Should I experiment more with this painted surface design?
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A jar made for Tristan this Christmas, in a similar style to his bedroom painting and previously posted planter. The reason for this gift was simple: I wanted him to have a place to put his most treasured belongs, such as my first letter to him, the stub from our first movie together, a lock of my hair...

Just kidding. He loses things all the time and I thought this would be useful. Also, I like making jars.
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For my boyfriend Tristan this Christmas, I created a large planter to compliment a painting in his bedroom. I wanted it to be bulbous and simple in shape to highlight the intense movement of the underglaze, the design and colors inspired by the painting he created during the pandemic.

To capture the the energy I desired, I first created large swaths of blue, then layered lime green and black in varying brush sizes. In an effort to recreate the painting's colors stretching over the white paint as they flowed, I haphazardly carved through the underglaze to showcase the white stoneware.

With a pedestal and inner rim of glossy black to frame everything, I chose an arrangement of lucky bamboo for its verticality, contrasting the wide bulbous body while complimenting the lime green used throughout.
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For nearly the past decade I've organized a Secret Santa exchange for my immediate family, and this year I was assigned my youngest sibling, Rachel.

Being an avid book reader like myself, it felt only appropriate to make her a pair of bookends that were not only functional, but exhibited her joy, energy and exuberance.

A departure from my usual style, I enjoyed throwing and slapping the underglaze onto the attached vessels, which are left unglazed aside from their glossy yellow geometric handles and interiors. One side is a catch-all, and the other a jar.

The bodies of the bookends are glazed entirely in black gloss and feature circular cut outs to mirror the handles.

The mod styling of the bookends along with their vivid coloring is a tip-toe into a style I'd like to spend some more time pursuing. We'll see, but it's always fun to experiment outside of your comfort zone and stretch yourself to grow
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6 months, in this economy? Crazy. Love it.

Stocking stuffer alert!

Christmas ornaments are back on the website! This year I've added rustic cactuses to our NC state, crucifix, and snowflake collection. Available for both local pickup and shipping.

Scroll through to check out the available design, then head to TwoShipsPottery.com to get yours in time for Christmas!

FREE ORNAMENT IN EACH ORDER PLACED TODAY!

Happy Thanksgiving weekend! Hope it was as filled with warmth and laughter as mine. This is the first Thanksgiving I've brought someone to meet all the family, so it felt extra special.

Speaking of that someone, here he is modeling my Raquel Mug and Lucci Mini Drop Pendant Necklace. If you're interested in getting one of these for yourself, head over to my website or DM me. Any order completed today will include a FREE ornament!

Best,
Ari

The Raquel Mug is back in stock for the holidays, now featuring an extremely comfortable 4-finger camp handle, a beveled lip for superior liquid flow, and enlarged proportions to accommodate 14-16 oz.

Go to my website through the link in my bio to grab one of your own! Free local pickup encouraged and available!

This season is always a busy one for makers. I'll be updating soon with more mugs, planters, ornaments, and jewelry for all your Christmas shopping. Chat soon!
-Ari
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A couple pics from showing off the process of constructing a piece.
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We threw pumpkins in my class today 🎃 this year, I'm redesigning my autumnal pumpkins so they can be used as luminaries and insense burners. Stay tuned 😊
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The two vases from yesterday's live trimming sesh. The left is made of Iceman stoneware clay from , and the right is their ultra smooth Brownbear stoneware. These were the result of class demos that I'll probably put up for sale on the
website, once completed.

I plan on completely glazing the white vase and incorporating fused glass, while the incredible burnish from the brown clay lends itself to being left raw with only glaze accents.

Which is your favorite and what colors or designs would you like to see incorporated?
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Happy Pride '23! It's crazy how the span of a year can change so much. I said the same thing last year, but I've never felt more true to myself than I do in this moment, embodying and harnessing the energies around me.

What does Pride mean to me? When you go for so long denying yourself, accepting the shame and guilt as your lot in life, pride means freedom. It means acceptance. It means letting go and finding wholeness in abandon. Not only does it mean kinship and love, but also a continued struggle as we wrestle with our pasts and advocate for a better future.

Pride means that my existence is incredibly meaningful, and yet no less important than anyone else's. Pride is being a human being, and at the crux of this movement for recognition and acceptance, I think that's all anyone in our community truly wants. To just BE. Without thought, without fear. If being with a man is what I choose, than I want to kiss him on a street corner without thinking twice. I want to dance with him in the same way I'd dance with a woman and lose myself in that experience, not in what people might think. To walk down a street in however I choose to dress or express myself, all without fear of anyone taking it upon themselves to express hate towards me.

In the US we're experiencing a resurgence of fascist, racist, and bigoted thinking. Are the people expressing those thoughts EVIL? No, but I DO think they're afraid. They see communities like ours advocating for space and believe that means space is being taken from them. But that's never been the case. We want to live and love. To exist without a second thought. Until then, we MAKE space by being colorful, loud, and outwardly proud of who we are.

Live, love, learn, and advocate for others who don't feel the same freedom or safety you do. And if you feel like taking shirtless photos with your art as a way of embodying your identity, do that, too 😁
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Working on pipes for and this little guy has come up and been keeping me company. Maybe this is my chance to be a cat dad?

What should I name him?

Love making friends and connecting with people, so who better to do that with than the people I teach and practice with at The Little Studio? We had the first of (hopefully) many potlucks and bonfires out in Dallas at the Dusty Boots event space, owned by my friend and student, Terry. And this was my first official outing in my new role as studio manager. How 2 years have flown by...

Many laughs, lots of food, and just the right temp to break out a tank and the 5" inseams. Summer's almost here, baby 🌞🤙🏼Bring it

Thanks to everyone who came and shared! We hope to see even more of the studio crew there in the future

Late NCECA 2023 post: Incredible times had in Cincy being surrounded by people who share my passion and craft. Time well-spent with friends, old and new, while having the chance to literally study at the feet of artists and craftspeople I've looked up to for so long.

Looking forward to carrying all of this inspiration into my practice 😊
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Happy Holidays & Merry Christmas! Thank you for a great Christmas market season and for joining me on this making journey. Stay warm!

Much love!
-Ari

Demeter, 2022
12.5" x 8.5"

Sometimes you create something and the idea sticks in your consciousness. This piece was actually the first that I had the thought to manipulate to create a sense of organic movement. Ever since I've been drawn creating more forms like this.

I've named her Demeter after the Greek goddess of agriculture because her glazing and form makes me think of growth, life, and bounty. The glazes I used create what looks like crystallized magic, and I couldn't be happier with the result.

Interestingly, in contrast to her companion piece, Dmitri, her energy is distinctly feminine to me. Do you get the same sense?