Hebee Pottery

I am U.S. Veteran making pottery in Western Massachusetts.

I create new designs in Chicopee MA at my home Studio.

In Palmer Ma we have our production studio

I teach Pottery classes in Palmer Ma  and in Sturbridge Ma at the Brush It off Art Studios  where we  teach up and coming potters.

As you may have gathered from the photo in the spring till late fall we do art festivals, craft shows, and renfairs (which are a whole lot of fun)

The Hebee Pottery Story;

Hebee Pottery started its existence in my head in Eighth Grade after spending a semester on a kick wheel.

In the next five years I soaked up all the knowledge I could from making clay, glazes and taking art history classes to expand my views of art.

This paid off my winning various art exhibits outside of the high school.

 Later on the thoughts of making a living at pottery was reinforced after selling several pieces to people who were not friends or family.

Instead of staying in school  I joined the military thinking I can kill two birds with one stone ,seed money for a pottery studio and money for school if I want to go back, then the unthinkable happened.  

I got into a biking accident that left me with a Neer Prosthesis in my dominant arm (left)  and about 30% use of it. 

After lots of trial and error I learned how to adapt throwing on the wheel using the 30% range of my dominant arm. 

Covid Has  Positive Stories :

Covid afforded me the opportunity to really sit down for hours at a clip and refine my adaptation and throwing skills. I was able to get a few electric wheel which is when everything began to fall into place,.I could hover over the clay adjust the seat heights to maneuver my arm along with using tools to compensate for the lack of dexterity and motions my arm just could not do anymore,.Even with only 30% use  of my dominant  arm I had the ability to create beautiful work Practice, patience, persistence, along with some ingenuity was the key in this journey

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We went from throwing in the basement with a baby kilns to three electric kinn, two gas kilns , and 14 by 30 shed fully outfitted with pottery gear.

At the present time I am teaching, hosting corporate events and parties in a public studio in Sturbridge Ma Called Brush It Off On side note (It Is A Blast To Work In Either Side Of the Studio.) have a production studio along with teaching intermediate to advanced people glaze making and techniques in Palmer Ma