Mark’s journey in ceramics began more than four decades ago after he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Education, with a concentration in ceramics, from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. As both a ceramic artist and educator, he has continually expanded his practice while illuminating the remarkable—and seemingly boundless—expressive potential of clay and glaze.
His current work celebrates the distinctive qualities of both materials, resulting in an expansive body of hand-built and wheel-thrown work. As the resident artist at the Dublin Arts Center / Kiln Room Dublin, Mark continues to share his enduring commitment to ceramics through both studio practice and teaching ceramics to students of all ages.
Featured works
Porcelain, Cone 10 Oxidation
14” Tall x 8” Wide
“My ceramic practice explores the relationship between form and finish, with a particular focus on the ethereal qualities of crystalline glazes. Made from scratch, my glazes embrace an element of controlled unpredictability.
The dialogue between form and surface finish is central to my work. Each firing produces a unique pattern that cannot be fully replicated, giving every wheel-thrown vessel its own distinct character.”
Donna’s Artist Statement:
My creative journey has traversed various media, from painting and drawing to mixed media and digital art. Each medium has offered unique opportunities to explore form, texture, and narrative.
My early work in painting and drawing taught me to slow down, to observe closely and to engage deeply with the work around me, while my foray into digital art opened up new realms of possibility in blending the virtual with the tangible.
Recently, I discovered the world of ceramics, which has profoundly shifted my artistic focus. The tactile nature of clay, its malleability, and the transformative process of firing have captivated me. The medium bridges the gap between my love for physical craftsmanship and my desire for creative experimentation.
Working with ceramics has allowed me to infuse my art with a new dimension of texture and form. The challenge of shaping clay into my envisioned forms combined with the unpredictability of the kiln have become an exciting part of my creative process.
Each piece I create is a testament to my ongoing exploration and the joy I find in the intersection of tradition and innovation.
Raku Fired Clay, Osage Wood
19” Tall x 20” Wide
Fine Woodworking by Richard Paladino
67.5” W x 35.5” H
For years, Tom Radca's pottery designs have been treasured for their marvelous depth of color and lusterous highlights. Expertly handcrafted in the artisan's rural Ohio barn studio, Radca's trademark large scale designs feature 36" diameter plates and vessels measuring up to 60" in height.
Beginning at the potter's wheel, Radca often works with as much as 50 pounds of clay. The warmth and splendor of Radca's pieces are attributed to his carefully developed firing process. Color and effects result from controlling the temperature of firing and by introducing combustible materials to the kiln environment near the end of the firing process - a process he calls "Painting with Fire."
After the pots are fired and allowed to cool, Radca applies muratic acid that eats away at carbon buildup and exposes the color underneath. It took years of exploration for Radca to perfect this technique, as well as his unique firing process.
Porcelain, Stoneware, Wire
20” W x 38” H