Cheryl Jordan

I have been making pottery since 1968 when I took my first clay class at the Flint Institute of Arts. From the very beginning, I loved the smell, the feel, and the versatility of clay. Fifty plus years later, I continue to love playing with fresh ideas in my studio in Shelby, Michigan. I truly cannot imagine my life without a connection to clay.

I find inspiration in nature that surrounds me. My studio is set in the wooded dunes on the shores of Lake Michigan. I enjoy the quiet of my studio nestled in the woods, just up from the lake. It provides me with a distraction-free space to give form to my ideas, which change over time as the pieces gradually evolve.

I create each piece of pottery individually, by throwing it on a potter’s wheel or building it by hand, or combining both these methods.  I value practicality and usefulness, so all of my pottery is intended to be used–in the kitchen, at the table, and in the home. All pieces are safe for the microwave, the table, the dishwasher, and even for the oven (when heated with the oven).

Glaze work is so important in finishing a pot. The incredible beauty of Lake Michigan with its thousand shades of blue is a daily feast for my eyes and has inspired one of my favorite glazes, which I call “Lake Michigan Blue”. I favor many shades of blue, purple, and turquoise, yet also brighter colors like copper red. More recently, I have enjoyed the interplay between glazed surfaces and exposed raw clay as I explore the earthiness of the clay coupled with the refined surface of glaze.

Selected Shows and Awards:

Over the years I have participated in many art fairs and art shows. My work has been recognized with various ribbons and awards. However, now I prefer to show or sell my work through galleries, although I continue to do a very successful one-day annual sale at Stony Lake in Oceana County. 

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