Susan Smith has traveled and lived in many places, but most of her time has been spent in Tennessee. She studied Ceramics at the Appalachian Center for Craft and graduated with a B.F.A. in 1999. After several more years of traveling and working, she settled down and started her studio in the Fall of 2005. Susan draws inspiration from contemporary design, textile patterns, printing techniques, Scandinavian and Asian aesthetics and the world outside.

Susan throws and alters white stoneware on the potter’s wheel. The pots are bisque fired and then clear glazed. Colors are mixed by hand according to the designs being used. Designs are sketched and painted on each pot. Using a sgraffito tool, the entire image is outlined with an etched line. The pots are fired in an electric kiln to about 2250 degrees Fahrenheit; firing in an electric kiln allows the colors to remain vibrant with the high temperature vitrifies the clay and strengthens the finished product.