About Three Ridges Pottery

Welcome to Three Ridges Pottery!  All of my work is handmade in my home studio and inspired by the nature around me, from the beautiful beaches of Florida to the amazing Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. 

Art has been an elusive, lifelong pursuit for me.  My family has art in their blood.  My French Grandmother's Great Great Grandfather was a painter and court artisan for King Louis the IV of France (Francois Boucher).  Stories about his work and fame were the pride of the family.  So it was with much enthusiasm that I went off to Edinboro University (PA) as a fine art major in 1979 with the relatively humble dream of becoming an art teacher.  Creating and making spoke to me, calmed me and helped me make sense of the world, I wanted to share that gift, and our family passion with the world!  

Then life intervened...  After one semester at Edinboro, for relationship reasons, I transferred to Ithaca College in New York, which didn't have a Fine Arts Program.  I took as many art history classes as I could, trying to feed my artistic voice, but eventually graduated with B.A.'s in Economics and English - "nice accomplishment but way off course!" -  screamed the voice inside my head.  After a few years in the corporate world of New Jersey I moved to South Florida, built a commercial cleaning business and started a family with my then husband.  Our success allowed me to return to my passion of creating.

I started with a few refresher painting and life drawing classes at the Armory Arts Center in West Palm Beach, FL.  A few years later I took a pottery class at the Vero Beach Museum of Art in Vero Beach, Florida, and a new world opened up!  That's when I realized I could make three-dimensional, functional items that brought joy to me as the maker and that were affordable to purchase (as opposed to paintings which sold for much more, were harder to sell and store!).  Pottery making became the perfect combination of creative outlet, a way to share my passion with the world, and a great excuse to stand outside on the weekends, in all kinds of weather, meeting wonderful people at festivals, lol.  Pottery ticked all the boxes!   

Since moving to Virginia I've been lucky enough to take workshops with Jane Angelheart at City Clay in Charlottesville, Jake Johnson in Waynesboro, and Liz Zlot Summerfield in N.C..  The mid-Atlantic region has many talented makers and a rich artistic history and I'm thrilled to live here in the Blue Ridge Mountains now.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about me.  I hope you enjoy my pieces as much as I enjoy making them!

 

A picture of my pup as a place holder:).   Michelle Riordan