Pottery with a new twist on tradition.
Maine native Richard Johnson creates unique wheel thrown pottery jugs and clay sculptures adorned with clever faces and folk art embellishments where no two are alike. He and his wife operate and sell Johnson’s work locally, nationally and abroad from their Rockland studio, Camden Pottery.
Johnson’s work will be available for wholesale buyers in the Market Square Artisan Gallery from February 7-9, 2016 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania.
Potter and sculptor, Richard Johnson with one of his life-sized mermaids handmade for the Maine Lobster Festival.
“Richard’s work is a unique combination of hand-thrown pottery and sculpture on one piece. Yet it’s still handmade in the traditional manner using materials, skills and processes of potters from centuries ago,” says Kathy Goodrich, president of Market Square. “His pieces have strong appeal because today’s consumers are looking for a new twist on the old – a product trait that buyers look for in stocking their stores.”
Pottery by artisan Richard Johnson, Camden Pottery.
For Johnson, there’s no novice in his title. He’s been professionally throwing and building with clay since opening his first studio in Portland after graduating in 1973 with a BA in art. Over the years, he kindled a renewed interest in raku firing, participated as a guest sculptor in the castle at Walt Disney World, started several pottery studios, and now teaches high school art students.
In the seventies Johnson crafted a popular collection of Maine blueberry pottery that continues to be sold in the gift shops at Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor. “This blueberry pottery can be found on the secondary market generally from Ebay,” says Johnson. “It has also shown up in antique shops which is a good example of how long the collection has been around in Maine and the U.S.”
Potter and sculptor, Richard Johnson with a pottery mermaid.
A sculptor of mermaids, Johnson creates a life-sized mermaid for the annual Maine Lobster Festival, an event that he and his family have been involved in for over 35 years.
Market Square showcases unique, one of a kind gift and home décor products in the traditional, farmhouse, primitive and vintage styles. Learn more about buying and exhibiting at Market Square Shows, and see a list of exhibitors at www.marketsquareshows.com
For more information about Richard Johnson visit his website at www.camdenpottery.com