Welcome to Howell Pottery
Steve Howell, potter and copper sculptor
Steve Howell is a full time, non-supported studio potter and has been since 1983. Now he works primarily creating woven copper and clay sculptures as well as functional red earthenware dinner ware. Steve continues to stretch his talent creating new forms with more elaborate and intricate designs. His pieces are manipulated and embellished to create the sculptural forms that are his trademark.
Howell first ``fell in love with pottery'' upon meeting his roommate, a potter, while stationed at an Air Force base in Texas. The entire apartment was decorated with pots, wall to wall, floor to ceiling. That was the beginning of Howell's enchantment with ceramics. Later, he was transferred to Hawaii, as editor of the base newspaper. While there a story he wrote about the pottery studio on base was the catalyst that persuaded him to pursue his ambition to become a potter.
Steve began working in clay in 1970 while serving in the U.S. Air Force. After four years (1969-1973), he returned to Austin Texas to attend the University of Texas for a BFA in studio art. In 1975-1977 he studied Ceramic Arts and Ceramics at Wichita State University earning a Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.).
According to Howell, his deepest desire is ``to truly understand myself and the process that I have been shown. I hope I can bring the two together and devote my whole life to behaving creatively.”
Steve spent most of his first ten years in clay working with stoneware and porcelain and experimenting with salt glazing, raku, and pit firing before he discovered low-fire and colored slips and underglazes. Now he does only low fired vessels which are either wheel thrown or hand built using molds. Steve’s Majolica pieces have a soft surface, and the images are looser than the hard-edged, shiny surfaces of his other work. He paints directly on the bisqued form with colored glazes creating a soft saturated surface and brush work that’s abstract and visible. He has developed a personal style and unique artistic techniques quite different from the traditional, functional high-fire ceramics he learned during the sixties and seventies.
Howell's designs are influenced by current trends as well as popular painters of the turn-of-the-century especially Mattise and use of colors. Howell is also strongly impressed by early Japanese pottery, particularly the ``Amari'' style and his work has been exhibited in Japan.
His red earthenware ceramic collection includes platters, dinner plates, clay baskets, boxes, vessels, bowls, and vases.His latest venture channels his love of basket weaving. He expertly weaves strips of copper into intricate pieces including boat sculptures and reliquaries. Clay bases are integral to displaying the finished work. His woven copper pieces are inspired by his extensive travels and additional skills garnered at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts.
His work has been recognized with multiple awards at art shows around the country including the Walt Disney Festival of the Masters. He has contributed to group and solo exhibitions and is included in numerous museum and private collections. Howell is eager to share his techniques with art students and devotees of his work and loves to teach short intensive workshops in the U.S. and abroad.
According to Howell, his deepest desire is ``to truly understand myself and the process that I have been shown. I hope I can bring the two together and devote my whole life to behaving creatively.”