Scott

Scott makes mini sculpture, bowls and useful things for the house. His best piece so far is the chess set on this page.

Scott at The Clay Hole in Draper, Utah, holding a speckled white piece from the ceramic chess set he made
Serious since 2025 Makes Mini sculpture, bowls, useful things Best piece so far The chess set

Three starts, a detour into wood, and then Utah.

How did clay and pottery find you in the first place?

I played with clay as a kid, again in college, then again when I got married. Then I spent many years traveling and was unable to find a studio. I forgot all about clay and took up carving wood. When I moved to Utah I finally had the time and opportunity to get more serious about ceramics. I was lucky to find out that the best studio in Utah opened a couple miles from my house.

The chess set stays in the family.

What do you make, and which piece would you never part with?

I make mini sculpture and bowls and useful things for the house. Sometimes bread pans, sometimes soap dishes. My best piece so far is my chess set. I don’t think I’d part with my chess set, except maybe to give it to my kids.

Still working out the dark art.

Favorite glaze or combo in our library, and what made you loyal to it?

I’m still trying to figure out the dark art of glazing. I don’t have a favorite yet. Every one seems to go wrong for me.

What he created here at The Clay Hole.

Making a set of your own: our ceramic chess set lesson walks through it, from the gauge and the first pawn to the board.

He wanted orange. He got a lumpy tumor.

What’s the worst pottery disaster you’ve ever had?

I worked for a couple months on a bread pan for baking sourdough. I wanted an orange glaze but ended up with a kind of flesh colored pink and yellow. An otherwise perfect pan ended up looking like a lumpy tumor. I had to start over.

Thirty years on water problems, all over the globe.

Who are you when you’re not covered in clay?

I’m an environmental engineer and have worked on water management problems in mining and solid waste around the globe for 30 years. Also a father of grown kids and a husband for 28 years.

The youngest of three boys, and an entire food chain.

What were you like as a kid, and what did you want to be?

I was the youngest child of three boys. I spent a lot of time alone. I was a tinkerer and spent a lot of time taking my toys apart. I also had lots of animals: dogs, goats, chickens, cats, birds, fish, rabbits, hamsters, lizards…an entire food chain!

Draws, juggles, and makes just about anyone laugh.

What are you weirdly good at that has nothing to do with pottery?

I can draw really well, especially digital art. I can juggle. I can also make just about anyone laugh. :)

Soccer and surfing slid down the list.

What are you proudest of that has nothing to do with pottery?

I used to be proud of my soccer skills, my language skills, and my surfing skills. Now I’m proud of being a good parent to three adults.

Where to find Scott’s work.

Is your pottery online or for sale anywhere?

No, I’m neither good enough nor productive enough to sell my creations.

Scott makes at The Clay Hole, a community pottery studio in Draper, Utah.