I began making artisan pottery in the 1960s, focusing primarily on salt glaze pottery. This centuries-old glazing technique utilizes common rock salt tossed into a white-hot kiln. The salt vaporizes, creating a unique glaze as the fumes circulate through the kiln and up the chimney. The results can be unpredictable but are often very satisfying. I especially appreciate the American cobalt blue decorated salt glaze pottery made in the mid-1800s.

In 1975, I started Rowe Pottery Works on Main Street, Cambridge, Wisconsin. At that time, historic American salt-glazed pots were becoming highly collectible, prompting me to adapt my studio processes to create contemporary versions of those early ceramic pottery pieces. Over the next 29 years, the company grew from a one-person studio into a team of over 100, enjoying international distribution. I had the privilege of hiring skilled artists and craftspeople from around the country, even during a period when there was little demand for such expertise.

I sold Rowe Pottery Works in 2004. Today, I continue to enjoy making handcrafted pottery in my one-person studio. While my techniques have evolved, my aesthetic remains the same. My current challenge is to utilize a computer-controlled electric kiln to replicate what a traditional fire and smoke-belching kiln achieved in earlier days. I will always find joy in solving technical issues while developing new glazes and refining my methods to reach my artistic goals.