Retrospective
Floral Series	Puzzle Pieces	Porcelain Series	Mosaics

Artist Statement

We, Tom and Sherrie Carris, started the pottery in Iowa in 1972 as Black Diamond Pottery. We changed the name to Carris Pottery when we moved to Tennessee in 1977, where we now live . Our work is all handmade. Most of the work is wheel thrown and high fired. Tom does most of the throwing and Sherrie the decorating.

All the designs are made with free hand brushwork using metallic oxides and sgraffito. Sgraffito is a process where the design is scratched through the surface oxide to the glaze underneath. Our pieces, from a cup to the largest vase, are one of kind items because each is thrown and decorated by hand. Since all pieces are individually made, the shapes and patterns have evolved over the years. We believe it is our commitment to continue to resist stamps, molds, and decals, that has resulted the continuing collectibility of our work. Our stoneware pottery is dishwasher, microwave, and food safe.

We started our pottery business, originally Black Diamond Pottery, in 1972 on a farm in Parnell, Iowa just outside of Iowa City. The road that ran in front of our farm house was called Black Diamond Road. Sherrie had just completed her M.A. and M.F.A. in Ceramics at the University of Iowa.

When we first started our business, we were looking for some way to make our work be unique and stand out from the rest of the potters we knew. At that time we saw very little decorated pottery at retail art fairs. It was through combining the brushwork inspired by Oriental pottery and Sherrie's love of flowers that our floral line has evolved. Most of the work is wheel thrown and high fired. Tom does most of the throwing and Sherrie the decorating.

e-mail: sherrie@artmuseumtouring.com