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Bill and Joyce Newton
Durham, NC 27713
bjpotters.bill@verizon.net
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Biography of Joyce Newton Joyce started taking pottery classes in 1997 at Durham Arts Council with encouragement from her husband, Bill. The moment her hands touched the clay, she was held captive and was in a magical world. She says when creating pots, the possibilities are endless as a beautiful form emerges from a lump of clay. She works mainly with porcelain and fires to mid-range cone 6 oxidation in an electric kiln. About 70% of her work is functional, but she enjoys altering her work and making fun things like teapot fountains, using colorful under glazes with a clear glaze sprayed over top. A lot of her pottery has flowers, plants, insects and animals painted with an under glaze or glazes and a clear glaze dipped or sprayed over the porcelain. She also carves and sculpts same on vases, platters, plates and bowls creating three dimensional images. The love of nature influences this style of her work. Biography of Bill Newton Bill first discovered clay in the mid 70’s and after a 20 year break, clay came back into his life when Joyce, his wife took a pottery course in ‘97. In 2000, Bill and Joyce rented studio space at Claymakers in downtown Durham, NC and 2 years later had a studio built at home. Since retiring from his 8 to 5 job in 2003, he can step out his back door and into the studio at anytime and he usually loses track of time as soon as he touches the clay. The book by Terry Zug “Turners and Burners” piqued his interest in Folk Art, so he enjoys creating all kinds of face jugs. He also creates frog mugs, snakes, and plates with dancers, bowls with carved designs, platters and many other functional pieces. Every day is creative and fun and a learning experience, learning about clay, techniques, glazes or a little about himself. As a potter, Bill wants to create unusual, functional pottery and face jugs that make people smile.
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