Brandon and Kathleen Peters are high school sweethearts who have called Kittanning home their entire lives. They met at Kittanning Senior High School in 2004; and while both were avid musicians, Kathleen always had a knack for the visual arts. She would often be found in the art department covered in whatever medium she was working with that day.
After high school, both artists chose majors in the healthcare field. In 2013 the couple married and by 2018 they had completed their family with three children. At this time, Kathleen took a break from her career to raise their family. The days were long and the date nights were few and far between for the duo. While scrolling on YouTube, Brandon came across a video of an artist throwing pottery on a wheel and thought ‘this would be fun to try on our next date night’. In February of 2022, they took their first ceramics class together and by the following year in May of 2023 they had a fully operational pottery studio in the basement of their home.
After discovering and joining the PennOhio Clay Guild (POCG) in 2022, they were able to improve their skills and gain a plethora of knowledge in all things ‘clay’ related. As their confidence and quality of work increased, they realized this craft could be more than just another hobby. In late 2023, Peters Pottery Shop (the name of their in-home pottery business) was born. Brandon excels in utilizing the pottery wheel while Kathleen enjoys hand sculpting and carving pieces. Using his digital fabrication skills and technology like 3D printing and laser cutting, Brandon is able to create stamps and molds that are then used to personalize their pottery. Kathleen leans into her roots of surface design and uses underglazes to enhance their work and tell a story. The marriage of their talents complement each other perfectly to create the final product.
You can find more information about Peters Pottery Shop via Facebook & Instagram. Their pottery is available for purchase via their website www.peterspotteryshop.com and at two retail locations (Downtown Kittanning Central Market in Kittanning, PA and AO Market in Butler, PA). Any questions or inquiries can be directed to peterspotteryshop@gmail.com.
Mug of the Month - March Design Inspiration:
When asked to be featured as POCG’s March installment of ‘Mug of the Month’, we instinctively went straight to a seasonal themed design. Shamrocks, leprechauns and rainbows were amongst some of our initial ideas. Brandon could 3D print a shape to make a medallion and I could ‘spruce it up’ like we’ve done hundreds of times before.
After having a (breakthrough) conversation with guild founders Jen and Septimus, our thought process was completely shifted in regards to design. Being an artist means being creative, taking chances and experimenting with new techniques. The empowerment we received to challenge ourselves is a great lesson in growth. Without some friction and uncomfortable moments, we can’t grow.
With all that being said, we’ll be creating our series of 15 mugs with new and old techniques in mind. The inspiration for the design, however, is very familiar. During the pandemic in 2020, I was able to slow down and notice the beauty of nature in my own backyard. I became obsessed with identifying all of the birds that would visit the feeder hung outside of our kitchen window. I would (and still do) give each bird a name and imagine what their dialogues would entail. My favorite species (Black Capped Chickadee) will be the focal point of our collection. I plan to deviate from my realistic style of painting and instead go for more of an abstract and whimsical aesthetic.
We are thankful for your support and excited for you to follow our journey!
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