pippin + pearl

Tommy Poole

Tommy Poole started his artistic career as a painter. Although he found some success as a painter, he decided to marry his creative talents with skills gleaned from his “day job” as a tile layer. He had an interest in creating a line of glass accent tiles and, through his connections with a glass blowing studio in New York, Tommy  was able to spend a few years on the East Coast learning all the skills necessary for working with molten glass.

Eventually Tommy moved back to Oklahoma City and, under the influence of his younger brother who was already an established potter, he started using skills he’d honed in his glass blowing career to transition into pottery. With the loan of his brother’s wheel and kiln Tommy began turning out amazing pieces using a variety of techniques.

Tommy eschews the idea of “cookie cutter” pottery and takes extra care to make each piece completely unique in shape, color, and finish. His most popular pieces are created using the “Raku” technique, which is a glazing and firing method that utilizes a variety of organic materials and hand mixed glazes.

His items range from small and delicate bowls with pale finishes in metallic or iridescent earthy tones to large bottles and vases, each with a variety of textures.

As Tommy makes a name for himself in Oklahoma City, he is always looking for ways to keep each item totally one-of-a-kind. His future projects will likely involve a melding of delicate glass works with the sturdy warmth of pottery. You can find his current works at local handmade shop, Pippin + Pearl, or you can check out his website, tomdpotter.com

This entry was posted Tuesday, June 15th, 2010 at 2:37 am and is filed under Art. Both comments and pings are currently closed.