Local Potter Opens Studio to Students

Long-time Hemmingford resident Ron Pothier began potting in 1973—in his high school art class, after observing the talents of a guest potter.

Driven to further his studies, Pothier took up pottery at John Abbott College, opting to immerse himself in the Ceramic Technology Program, later going on to work at Montreal’s Magus Pottery. “In the 1970’s the schools had no computers, so they spent money on art supplies, electricity class, woodworking, auto shop, drafting, music, air-conditioning and refrigeration, and so much more hands-on education,” explains Pothier. The full-time potter recently began giving courses in January 2016, after completing his studio in 2015.

His courses include a one-day workshop, which is a perfect way for those with an interest in pottery to delve a little further into the art. Designed to suit everyone from beginners to the more advanced, Pothier hosts students in his newly constructed timber frame studio on Saturdays, from 9:00-3:00 P.M., charging only for the pieces that students want to keep—providing them with an unlimited amount of clay to work with and a wheel of their own, allowing students to work at their own pace. “I like the one-day workshops,’ explains Pothier. ‘It gives people, especially those who live farther away, the opportunity to experience pottery without having to commit for weeks on end, only to realize that pottery is maybe not their ‘thing’. The workshops are not just for throwing—there are workshops on hand building, making handles for more advanced students and simple workshops for kids and parents together—plus in the summer there will be Raku workshops, which are always fun.”

The award-winning potter opened his first studio in Lachine in 1999. Ten years later, Pothier and his wife, Norma, opted for a return to country life, purchasing a farm in Hemmingford. Originally from Havelock, Pothier’s wife was his main motivation for the move to the property that the couple currently resides on. “It is heaven,” says Pothier of the land. While the country is a huge source of inspiration for the potter, so is practicality—he’s been known to whip up whatever kitchenware he may need in his studio.

For more information, or to attend a weekend class, contact Ron Pothier via his website at www.lepotier.com or call the studio at 514-995-2529. The cost is $50 for the day, with firings at $5/kilo.