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Crafter’s Profile: Jeff Martin Explores Ceramics

Story by Amy Cooke

“Once I threw a pot, I knew that’s what I wanted to do,” explained Jeff Martin. “It was just one of those things that I did the first time and I was hooked. I knew that my future included pots, and I never questioned it from that very minute.”
Martin makes plates, coffee mugs, face jugs and more in his garage studio and sells them at the Watauga County Farmers’ Market. After working in clay for just a few years, he is finding his artistic voice and expressing his creative outlet in his works.

His journey began when he enrolled in Appalachian State University and went from major to major to major: geology to English to sociology. When Martin realized that he was spending time drawing during classes that he didn’t like, he decided to leave school for one semester. Apprenticed to a local potter for the job, not the art, he happened upon the medium that would change his life. Soon, after learning from local artists including Lucy Hamilton and Roland Hamner, he began his new career.

“I first started making lots and lots and lots of pots. I loved it, but was not happy with it,” said Martin. “Then I began to push myself to do more and became interested in art pottery. That’s when all of the possibilities came together.”

After Martin stopped worrying about producing large quantities of work and began concentrating on special pieces, he found his artistic voice. One of his favorite shapes is the free-form bottle that he turns into a modern face jug. “They are really pretty to me. The vessel contains things that relate to a person. They have a neck and shoulders and a body. I like being influenced by the past and doing it in my style of the present.”

Most, but not all, of Martin’s work is functional and he takes pride in how light the pieces are. “The coffee mugs feel really good because they are easy to pick up and hold and don’t weigh you down,” he explained.

Much of his current work involves carving images on top of black slip, a technique called sgraffito, from the Italian word for “to scratch,” used by ninth century Persian potters. “I love to look at things that inspire me like art that just blows me away,” explained Martin. “I am taking my time with each piece and some wonderfully unique work is happening.

“I like to add words to the pieces and do that the last thing. Usually the words are something really spiritual. I don’t have any choice with that because I feel like I’m on a spiritual journey.”

Martin is caretaking for his 89-year-old grandfather and helps his 2-year-old daughter Emma make her first artistic cups. He also has an 11-year-old stepdaughter named Taylor.

One of his aspirations is to become a sponsored mountain biker. “I love to ride and it’s a spiritual ride for me. I enjoy nature and my body and the speed. I like hiking but it’s just not fast enough for me,” he said.

Jeff Martin Ceramics are available in Charlotte at the Black Lion and locally at Hands Gallery, Green Mother Goods, Espresso News and 87 Ruffin Street, as well as Saturday mornings from 8:00 until noon at the farmers’ market in Boone. Much of his work sells for $8 to $500, with the sgraffito ranging from $25 to $1,200. He welcomes commissions and visitors to his studio and recommends calling ahead at 828-773-7360.

He has a website (www.jeffmartinceramics.com), a blog (www.jeffmartinceramics.blogspot.com) and an online store (www.jeffmartin.etsy.com). He enjoys communicating with his customers in person and online.

“I have always journaled and I’m not ashamed to say that I enjoy getting feedback. I hear a lot from people who have bought my work. The best artist sales are ones where a connection is made,” he said.

Online visitors learn more about the artist and his work, including his sparkly sundrops. He explains that the idea for his glass and clay creations was born from a sculptural piece that had a reflecting pool. Martins fires his sundrops with his other ceramics. The glass cools very quickly, causing cracks and honeycombs “that refract the sunlight like crazy.”

Martin fills his kiln with new pieces each week and is looking forward to building a larger groundhog kiln near his studio. “I am loving doing my best work possible. That’s what passion is all about. I put my heart and passion into the work and trust the universe,” he said.