Mug of the Month Artist, September 2025: Septimus Bean

Reserve Your September Mug Today!

PennOhio Clay Guild’s September Mug of the Month:

Septimus Bean’s Duality in Clay

When we first developed the idea for the Mug of the Month Project, it started simply—two potters, Marisa and I, sitting at a table, conversing over methods to better engage our members, celebrate their work and provide a channel directing revenue to artists. We wanted to create an opportunity to have guaranteed compensation for new work that potters could take chances on as they advance their skills and experiment with new techniques.

Each month of the year, a selected Guild artist would be commissioned to design and produce a limited-edition mug that would showcase their skills, tell their stories, and create a cohesive collection for the community. We launched this idea with Charlie Parrish stepping up to create the very first mug series in January 2025, followed by seven more incredible artist to date, each one leaving their mark on this project.

The objectives were simple: celebrate our members, elevate our craft, and connect our community through clay. The results, however, have been far more significant. Each mug has shared the story of an artist’s journey, style, and philosophy, and together they have created a visual history of the Guild’s growth.  Support for the monthly mugs has been very satisfying, as more and more mug enthusiasts and collectors are joining in and to embrace the artists’ work.  In June, when I realized that the month of September had gone unassigned, I decided it was time to step into this project myself and to dedicate time and creative energy to this endeavor on a personal level.

Stepping Into My Own Work

Over the past several years, much of my energy has gone into building the Beanpod Clay Co-op. That effort transitioned into the founding and growth of the PennOhio Clay Guild. As the current Director, time for my own collections and design work is limited. My priorities are focused on managing our communal studio and supporting others in learning and developing their clay related skills. This period of teaching and community building left me without a large personal portfolio, but it provided me with something more valuable: perspective. Working with so many different POCG artists alongside their journeys has provided me an incredible foundation in clay and in people.

Over this time, two distinct aesthetics emerged in my sketchbooks, digital notebooks, and Pinterest boards:

1. A playful, colorful, abstract world—quirky, altered forms, unexpected textures, and bright, spirited expressions of clay.

2. A darker, moodier vision—layered surfaces, crawling glazes, dramatic contrast, and pieces that invite introspection.

To give these creative personalities names, I drew inspiration from my own name, Septimus. The whimsical side became Septipotimus, a mythical, kiln-born creature that celebrates curiosity and play. The shadowed, brooding side took on the name Septicemia, after a vicious blood disorder—a fitting moniker for clay-work that digs deep into the psyche.

click image below for higher resolution image to read:

Finding the September Mug’s Identity

Taking on this project was equal parts opportunity and quest. How could I design a mug that is not only representative of my artistic voice but also stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the well received work of previous Mug of the Month artists? I wanted this collection to feel and look authentic, structurally sound, and experimental—to showcase alternative clay-building techniques and surface designs while honoring all of the Guild’s 2025 Mug of the Month submissions.

To do that, I revisited some of my favorite pieces in my personal pottery collection, archived ideas, sketches, vintage ephemera, early vision boards, and the inspirations that shaped me as a maker. The final September design will draw elements from:

• Ron Krogh’s highly detailed surface motifs

Ron Krogh, a studio potter who was based in Bountiful, Utah, is best known for his thrown and altered stoneware vessels, distinguished by their highly detailed surface motifs. His signature style often mimicked the texture of crumpled newspaper, enhanced with black underglaze or oxide to emphasize printed text and create a striking visual contrast. This unique approach transformed simple, functional pottery into thought-provoking works of art, blurring the line between utility and narrative sculpture. By incorporating folds, smudges, and text, Krogh elevated clay as a storytelling medium, capturing the fleeting nature of daily life and preserving it in a permanent, tactile form.

Krogh’s work reflects a deep engagement with surface design and the expressive potential of ceramics, a philosophy he shared as a ceramic instructor in the 1960s. His exceptional craftsmanship earned him lasting recognition, with pieces like the 1970 Apollo Moon Shot Pot included in the collection of the American Museum of Ceramic Art. Krogh’s vessels, often signed “Ron Krogh,” remain highly regarded examples of mid-century studio ceramics, showcasing both technical precision and artistic vision. His legacy lies in his ability to transform everyday imagery into enduring works of art, encouraging viewers to see the extraordinary in the ordinary through the timeless medium of clay.

From the collection of Septimus Bean

Additional work by Ron Krogh

• Paul Soldner’s fearless experimentation

"The most difficult thing to teach is curiosity," Soldner says. "The next thing is the courage to do it." Having courage means taking risks, something that Soldner models in his class demonstrations. He throws pots off center or upside down, he also drops newly thrown pots on the floor to find in their crushed shapes fresh, expressive possibilities.

Paul Soldner’s work epitomized an adventurous spirit in ceramics, challenging traditional boundaries and encouraging artists to embrace spontaneity. Known as a pioneer of American Raku, Soldner adapted the ancient Japanese firing technique to his own artistic vision, often leaving his surfaces marked by the unpredictable dance of smoke, flame, and chemistry. He championed experimentation over precision, treating the kiln as a collaborator rather than a mere tool. His pieces often carried dramatic textures, organic forms, and accidental effects—hallmarks of his belief that beauty often emerges from risk and imperfection.

Beyond technique, Soldner’s design philosophy was deeply rooted in the idea that ceramics should be a personal, expressive journey rather than a rigid craft. He encouraged artists to see “accidents” not as mistakes but as opportunities to push their creative vision further, a concept he famously called “the art of controlled accidents.” Soldner’s influence helped shift ceramics from utilitarian objects to sculptural works of fine art, inspiring generations of potters to embrace individuality, playfulness, and the unpredictable nature of clay and fire.

From the collection of Septimus Bean

Additional work by Paul Soldner

• M.C. Escher’s Layers from within the Relativity Lithograph

  It depicts a world in which the normal laws of gravity do not apply.

• Images from turn-of-the-20th-century receipts and advertising memorabilia, vintage medical and art journals, regional ephemera and historic pottery references

The Mug of the Month Legacy

The Mug of the Month project is a living gallery of our Guild’s creativity, and September’s mug will add a new chapter that’s deeply personal. These mugs will embody both sides of my evolving artistic voice: Septipotimus’ whimsical curiosity and Septicemia’s moody depth.

The Collection will be a convergence of these two concepts, forming a duality of sorts. Each mug will be a narrative piece: a blend of experimentation, and intention—a tangible expression of what it means to be both a teacher and a maker in this community.

This initial collaboration will be derived under the name:

IMUSIA • a Septicēm on a Septipot

This month, I invite you to join me in this journey: to celebrate clay not just as a craft, but as a mirror of identity, imagination, and growth. The September Mug of the Month isn’t just a vessel—it’s a story in your hands.

Reservations to purchase this limited edition mug are available now.  We’ll learn more about the design and making progress mid-September with the final presentation by the end of the month.

Please note, due to the nature of Septimus' designs, mug choice will be offered in the order of reservation date.

Reserve Your September Mug Today!