Potters Spotlight

Potters Spotlight

Dennis Howard

Potter: Denny Howard
Fires to cone: 10+
Fires: Reduction / Vapor Fire
Glazes: Self formulated/mixed
Clay: Stoneware, Porcelain

Primary method: Wheel

Favorite Item: Jugs, Pitchers and Lidded jars
Favorite subject: Plants, Flowers, Landscapes and Trees (Nature)

Shop Name: Howard Pottery
Location: 21 Pleasant Street, Sagamore, MA

Dennis, (prefers Denny) Lives in Sagamore, MA on the east (northeast) side of the Sagamore bridge on 21 Pleasant Street. His house and shop are a short stones-throw from the canal, in fact looking out of his kitchen window is a nice view or the water. Denny has been renovating his home over a period of years and to some degree he is still working on it. His shop is housed in an early 1800’s barn. The barn has two foot on center three inch rafter joists and is made of old plank barn board. Denny has renovated and re-enforced the barn for pottery making, using the animal stalls for display, glaze room and a throwing area. He has expanded the showroom to include the old upstairs hay loft, still visible are the hay loaders and lower ramp that were used to bring the hay bales to the barn.

Denny’s work is made up primarily of vessels from stoneware or porcelain. These vessels take the form of vases, bowls and pitchers as well as platters and mugs, mostly all functional work. There are also lamps (oil), and his Vapor Fired wares as well as many other works. Most of Denny’s work has a light flowing natural look. Some of his works carry “sea-scapes”, (when he lived out west customers referred to them as “desert-scapes”) others have light flowing branches, leaves and flowers. Denny enjoys making lidded jars, some have carved scenes of nature in them. The glazes Denny uses work very well with his forms and have a comfortable feel and look. The gas kiln sits out front to the left of the barn. The kiln was hand built by Denny and is under cover.

In the potters own words…

Barbara and I, along with our two sons, Joe and Sam, moved to Cape Cod in 1999. Prior to this we lived in Central Mass (Barre) for ten years and for two years prior to that we lived in New Hampshire. Before moving to New England we spent many years (to difficult to count) living in the Rocky Mountains in Logan, Utah.

My nearly 30 years in pottery began in Utah where I was influenced by the mountains and desserts as well as by many fine potters, including David Shaner, Tom Coleman, Sharon Brown-Mikkelson, and Tom Turner (though he was in Ohio) to name a few. My work is also heavy influenced by historical ceramics, especially Japanese pottery. This influence can be seen in many of the glazes I use as well as my brushwork which I often use on functional pieces.

Most of my work is functional and is intended for use. I attempt to keep the form and function in agreement (form follows function). Pieces should feel good when being held and should function as intended.

I look forward to the continuing evolution of my pottery as more Cape Cod environmental influences as well as influences from the many fine potters on the Cape begins to emerge in my work. I am usually at work at Howard Pottery in Sagamore, though I also do some financial consulting work to augment my income. I, like so many potters, struggle to make ends meet with only the pottery income. I welcome visitors to my pottery and am always willing to share what I know, so if you are in the area, stop by. If you want, give me a call first, to make sure I am in.