THE CLAY ART STUDIO
Barbara Toole, Studio Potter
50 North Liberty St.
Nantucket, MA. 02554
508.228.2376

ABOUT THE ARTIST
ARTIST STATEMENT
SIGNATURE BOWLS
CLASSES
CONTACT INFORMATION
SPECIALTY ITEMS
FISH and ANIMALS
SWEET LIBERTY GUEST HOUSE
island image1
MUGS and CUPS
"I make functional pottery that is food safe, dishwasher safe, and can be put
in the microwave.  All pieces are made in my studio here on Nantucket.  I

also do special orders and sets of dishes.  Enjoy looking at my work."

-Barbara Toole

I came to clay first and foremost out of a passion
for the medium. I have worked in many crafts;
cake decorating, painting, papermaking, fashion
design, floral arranging, and many varieties of
sculpture; but no one medium can compare to
clay.  I am a functional potter, and much of my
work is in the form of bowls, plates, vases, cups,
and canisters.  I constantly try new glazes,
applications, and ways to make my work unique.

Working from my own studio has caused my

The transformation of my pieces from organic to
embracing the use of color has become my trademark.
I brush all of my glazes, take risks with combining
many colors, and add a variety of textures to many of
my pieces. Although I am inspired by artists such as
Modigliani, Morandi, deStaël and Hundertwasser, I am
often influenced by what I encounter in nature; on my
walks with my dog, while running, or even just around
town.  The things I come across somehow come back
through my hands and into my work. I like to think
these influences lend my work a whimsical character,

while still remaining quite user-friendly.

The process of creating each piece is as important to
me as the finished product. At any part of the process,

from beginning to end, whether I am throwing bowls on

style to evolve, with the limits of an electric kiln pushing me beyond the ‘one dunk’
school of glazing and atmosphere kilns.
the wheel, rolling out clay for a slab construction, or applying glaze to bisque ware, I
am completely spellbound by the evolving piece in my hands. When I am in my
studio, my focus is on my work, and the world disappears. I embrace the clay, and I
am amazed at the shapes that appear. Each vessel, as a finished product, reflects
the process it went through to arrive at its end. To me, this process is more than just

my work; it is a miracle.