Nancy Bishop - 

Pottery

I attended Bowling Green State University, Ohio and spent two years as a student under Charles Lakofsky, Professor of Ceramics at the University of Findlay, Ohio. My arts education continued with advanced classes in pottery and glazes, and further ceramic studies at the Detroit Metropolitan Art Museum in Michigan.

I was one of the first potters to join the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, Virginia where I gave pottery demonstrations to thousands of customers and my creations left to be displayed worldwide.  As a result of my work, I have received honorary lifetime membership at the Art Center. I also worked in “Studio 24” for 28 years, retiring in 2002.  I was a member of the Kiln Club of Washington, D.C. for 17 years and participated in many juried art shows at SCOPE Gallery, Torpedo Factory Art Center, Alexandria, Virginia.  Though I have taught pottery classes in many stateside places and established a pottery workshop near Sydney, Australia, where I instructed for two years, I now work closer to my home in the Shenandoah Valley.

During my time at The Torpedo Factory Art Center many people from around the world watched as I worked in my studio with porcelain clay on my potter’s wheel. Porcelain clay requires more control and practice since it has more plasticity and fires to a pure vitreous body. One of my lifelong artistic goals was to create a non-runny high fire red glaze for electric kiln firing. After years of testing, my “Ruby” chromium glaze high-fired at cone 11 (2400 degrees F) was born in 1994. The chemical make-up of this glaze is similar to the ruby gemstone and holds designs without running down the vessel.  The inspiration for my work comes from within, from nature especially trees, and ideas from customers! I shall continue to “throw” pottery until I run out of exciting ideas that emerge from within---may it continue as long as my fingers function! I take orders and have a color brochure to mail when requested.

Today I am semi-retired with a studio in my home in Berryville. I am a member at the Artisans Center of Virginia, Waynesboro.  For the past nine years I have juried into the semi-annual Burwell-Morgan Mill Art Show, Millwood, Virginia, and at the annual Aldie Mill Art Show, Aldie, Virginia for four years.  Organizations and individuals throughout the country have commissioned my work which is currently available in galleries in both The Plains, Virginia and Berryville, Virginia, as well as at Midas Touch in Berryville.  In addition to working in my studio, I have also taught glaze workshops for Lord Fairfax Community College, Middletown, Virginia, and the Shenandoah Potters’ Guild.