benroticeramics

[benroticeramics]

Sedona Open Studio Tour 2021

This year I will be a host site for the Sedona Open Studio Tour. I’ll be participating with Jeff Heeg and Heather Spontak on our property in Camp Verde, AZ April 23, 24, & 25, 2021. Our studio is site number 16, learn more below!

SAVE THE DATE FOR THE SEDONA OPEN STUDIO TOUR

APRIL 23, 24 & 25

Given the successful and safe results of a number of Open Studio Tours around the country, we are thrilled to announce we are moving forward with the Tour on April 23, 24, and 25 – we hope you can join us! The 17th Annual Tour is a can't miss event and is sponsored by the Sedona Visual Artists’ Coalition. The Tour will be open each day between 10 AM to 5 PM, and as always, is free to all visitors.

Working artists in the Verde Valley are opening their private studios to visitors, allowing attendees the opportunity to gain an in-depth look at the creative process and purchase unique works of art while enjoying the stunning scenery of Sedona and the Verde Valley. The participating studios are in Clarkdale, Cottonwood, Cornville, Camp Verde, the Village of Oak Creek, and Sedona.

To ensure the health and safety of artists and attendees alike, each artist/studio participating in the Tour pledges to abide by CDC guidelines for curbing the spread of COVID-19. This includes wearing a mask, maintaining at least six feet of social distancing, and providing hand sanitizer for guests. Attendees will also be required to wear masks and observe social distancing practices when visiting the artists’ studios.

For more information, please go to the SVAC website: sedonaartistscoalition.org, visit us at www.facebook.com/sedonaartistsos or contact Mike Upp at mjupp10@gmail.com.

[benroticeramics]

On To The Next Chapter

After months of uncertainty and change, the new normal has become a reality. My time at Reitz Ranch Center for Ceramic Arts has come to an end. It's still hard to believe that ten years ago to the month, I moved from Iowa to Arizona to work with my mentor, Don Reitz. My position evolved from Don's studio assistant to the Ranch's studio manager, and finally as Education Director. These last few months have been unexpected and difficult, to say the least. 

However, as one door closes (sometimes quickly due to a pandemic), another opens. My hope is that the Ranch will someday reopen for future generations to come. Until then, my focus is shifting to my own studio. While the Reitz Ranch has been shut down due to the coronavirus, I've had time to set up my studio and begin to make new work. 

Over the last few weeks, I've started to think about creating a space for future classes to be hosted in my home studio. With the pandemic in mind, my ideas are to start small with private one-on-one classes, and other online socially safe practices.  

I'm nervous to be making such a shift in my life, but I'm optimistic good things will come from it. Thank you everyone for all your support over the years and I hope our paths cross soon.

[benroticeramics]

Red Bowl

If you’re a rule-breaker, and you like to eat on the couch instead of at the table, you’ll appreciate the form of this bowl. The bottom fits in the palm of your hand, and the tall sides help keep food in the bowl, rather than on the floor. This design and wisdom comes from my own personal experience.

This ware is made from earthenware clay and features bright vibrant colors. This piece is crafted over a bisque hump mold. Once off the mold the piece is hand-worked to alter the surface and shape. The piece is then glazed and fired to 2100°F. After firing, the piece is sandblasted and wet/dry hand-sanded for a soft, smooth feel. Each hand-made object is unique.

You'll be pleased to know this ware is food safe and is also dishwasher safe, though I recommend a combination of the dishwasher and hand washing since the nature of handmade pots are less durable than industrial. People have been known to put my earthenware pots in the microwave, but it is not recommended it because it is the iron (metal) that is giving the clay its rich red color. This high iron content could cause pots to crack in a microwave. I do fire my clay hotter than normal earthenware in order to vitrify the body and make it as durable as possible.

Product Dimensions: 3”H x 7.25” W

[benroticeramics]

Yellow Bowl

If you’re a rule-breaker, and you like to eat on the couch instead of at the table, you’ll appreciate the form of this bowl. The bottom fits in the palm of your hand, and the tall sides help keep food in the bowl, rather than on the floor. This design and wisdom comes from my own personal experience.

This ware is made from earthenware clay and features bright vibrant colors. This piece is crafted over a bisque hump mold. Once off the mold the piece is hand-worked to alter the surface and shape. The piece is then glazed and fired to 2100°F. After firing, the piece is sandblasted and wet/dry hand-sanded for a soft, smooth feel. Each hand-made object is unique.

You'll be pleased to know this ware is food safe and is also dishwasher safe, though I recommend a combination of the dishwasher and hand washing since the nature of handmade pots are less durable than industrial. People have been known to put my earthenware pots in the microwave, but it is not recommended it because it is the iron (metal) that is giving the clay its rich red color. This high iron content could cause pots to crack in a microwave. I do fire my clay hotter than normal earthenware in order to vitrify the body and make it as durable as possible.

Product Dimensions: 3”H x 7.25” W

[benroticeramics]

Blue Bowl

If you’re a rule-breaker, and you like to eat on the couch instead of at the table, you’ll appreciate the form of this bowl. The bottom fits in the palm of your hand, and the tall sides help keep food in the bowl, rather than on the floor. This design and wisdom comes from my own personal experience.

This ware is made from earthenware clay and features bright vibrant colors. This piece is crafted over a bisque hump mold. Once off the mold the piece is hand-worked to alter the surface and shape. The piece is then glazed and fired to 2100°F. After firing, the piece is sandblasted and wet/dry hand-sanded for a soft, smooth feel. Each hand-made object is unique.

You'll be pleased to know this ware is food safe and is also dishwasher safe, though I recommend a combination of the dishwasher and hand washing since the nature of handmade pots are less durable than industrial. People have been known to put my earthenware pots in the microwave, but it is not recommended it because it is the iron (metal) that is giving the clay its rich red color. This high iron content could cause pots to crack in a microwave. I do fire my clay hotter than normal earthenware in order to vitrify the body and make it as durable as possible.

Product Dimensions: 3”H x 7.25” W

[benroticeramics]

Green Bowl

If you’re a rule-breaker, and you like to eat on the couch instead of at the table, you’ll appreciate the form of this bowl. The bottom fits in the palm of your hand, and the tall sides help keep food in the bowl, rather than on the floor. This design and wisdom comes from my own personal experience.

This ware is made from earthenware clay and features bright vibrant colors. This piece is crafted over a bisque hump mold. Once off the mold the piece is hand-worked to alter the surface and shape. The piece is then glazed and fired to 2100°F. After firing, the piece is sandblasted and wet/dry hand-sanded for a soft, smooth feel. Each hand-made object is unique.

You'll be pleased to know this ware is food safe and is also dishwasher safe, though I recommend a combination of the dishwasher and hand washing since the nature of handmade pots are less durable than industrial. People have been known to put my earthenware pots in the microwave, but it is not recommended it because it is the iron (metal) that is giving the clay its rich red color. This high iron content could cause pots to crack in a microwave. I do fire my clay hotter than normal earthenware in order to vitrify the body and make it as durable as possible.

Product Dimensions: 3”H x 7.25” W

[benroticeramics]

Russell Beach: Ever The Adventurer

I was asked by my family to create an urn for my grandfather who passed away on April 6, 2020. I always told my grandparents that I would make these objects for them without much additional thought. After my grandfather’s passing, and a gentle reminder from my grandmother, I started to think about what this object would look like. I started to think about the importance of this object and what my grandfather meant to me. Someone who would always listen, who always cared more about what was going on in my life, who always had advice for the difficult questions and times. I never realized how much importance the jar form could have. It’s an honor to create such an object and it’s an honor to have had such a wonderful man as my grandfather. Thank you, Grandpa Russ.

Russell Beach: Ever The Adventurer

Russell F. Beach, Jr., 81, was born on June 9, 1938, in Chicago, Illinois, to Mary and Russell Beach, Sr. He passed away at his home in Phoenix, Arizona due to complications from COPD on April 6, 2020, wrapped in the loving embrace of his family. 

While born and raised in the Midwest, Russ found himself drawn west after high school graduation. With his mother’s blessing and father’s misgivings, he attended Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara, California, to study photography. There he met Vivian Blatt who asked Russ to become her assistant and accompany her to Africa. Being an adventurer to the core, Russ agreed to the journey and the odd couple (Russ being 21 and Vivian at 63) began their anticipated six-month-long photographic safari across the African continent. Two and half years later, the pair returned to the states with a treasure trove of wildlife images and everlasting memories. Russ’s rich experiences there were fodder for the amazing stories he recounted throughout the rest of his lifetime.

From Africa, Russ’s career path in photography led him back to the western US. His first professional position was at the White Sands Missile Range near Alamogordo, New Mexico. He was hired to photograph manned balloon flights and rocket sled experiments in the desert. Next up was a job he landed in Colorado working for the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). Here he flew on countless missions photographing weather phenomena. After this stint, he accepted a position much further north with the Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks. Russ managed the photography department for years studying the Aurora Borealis while also taking a part-time gig documenting the construction of the Trans-Alaska pipeline.

After many medical issues with his son Jeff, Russ and late wife, Irene, took a leap of faith and moved to Hawaii. He began his time on Maui selling real estate before a position at AVCO Research Lab opened. His job included photographing both foreign and domestic satellites for the US government. This top secret work resonated with Russ’s sense of adventure and his appetite for a challenge. Interestingly, Russ’s father later admitted that he was wrong and that Russell had chosen the best possible career for himself. 

In 1985, Russ’s personal life took a turn when he invited Chicago-native Susan Baron to visit him in Hawaii. Susan had lost her husband the year before and Russ thought it might be a good idea to rekindle their childhood friendship. The reunion proved to be so successful that the two wed the next year in Tucson, Arizona. Russ, Susan, and her nine-year-old son, Mark, began their new lives in Kihei, Hawaii in 1986. This husband and wife partnership led them to Russ’s lifelong dream to open a photography studio. Together, Susan and Russ ran “Beach’s House of Photography” until they left for Cottonwood Arizona in 1994. There they resumed their entrepreneurial endeavors and started “Beach’s On Location.” During their 23 years in Cottonwood, they made lifelong friends, but in 2018, with Russ’s failing health, they moved to Phoenix to be closer to family.

Russell will be lovingly remembered for the countless qualities he possessed: his boundless curiosity for all things, his inability to leave the house without a camera, his readiness to make friends wherever he went, his phenomenal ability to create the perfect mai tai, his passion for strawberry shakes, Clan MacGregor scotch, crab legs and every conceivable type of sweet treat, his delight in cooking for others, his ham radio skills, his passion for teaching others about photography, his insistence upon a jam-packed refrigerator, his tireless desire for shopping and spotting “great” deals, his quiet tenderness with babies, and lastly, his being primed and ready for the next grand adventure.    

Left to cherish his memory are his wife and best friend, Susan Baron Beach; his sister, Mary (and Tom) Schroeder; his children: Lisa Baron (and Steve) Roti, Jeff Beach, Kris Baron (and Rob) Friedman, Mark (and Kirsten) Baron and Melody Beach (and Matt) Miner; his grandchildren: Angie Grapsas, Ben (and Kami) Roti, Tyler Beach, Calli (and Kyle) Stiner, Ethan Beach, Sarah Roti (and Schulyer Johnson), Lexi Friedman (and Jack Bernard), Mallory Beach, Zach Friedman, Trey Baron, Coby Baron, and his great-grandchildren: Aria, Leo and Mila.

Russ was preceded in death by his parents, Mary and Russell Beach, Sr., and his brother, Jack.

A Celebration of Life for Russell will be held at a later date due to current COVID - 19 restrictions.  We will share the date when we are able to.  In lieu of donations please feel free to donate to www.billysplace.me  which is a charity that Susie and her family hold dear. Thank you!

I will post updates of the object upon completion.

[benroticeramics]

Blue Whiskey Cup

During a Reitz anagama firing, I was introduced to Dickel, a Tennessee Whiskey that became a crowd favorite. Mr. Dickel, this one’s for you….

This ware is made from earthenware clay and features bright vibrant colors. This piece is started on the wheel by making a cylinder. Once off the wheel, the piece is hand-worked to alter the surface and shape. The piece is then glazed and fired to 2100°F. After firing, the piece is sandblasted and wet/dry hand-sanded for a soft, smooth feel. Each hand-made object is unique.

You'll be pleased to know this ware is food safe and is also dishwasher safe, though I recommend a combination of the dishwasher and hand washing since the nature of handmade pots are less durable than industrial. People have been known to put my earthenware pots in the microwave, but it is not recommended it because it is the iron (metal) that is giving the clay its rich red color. This high iron content could cause pots to crack in a microwave. I do fire my clay hotter than normal earthenware in order to vitrify the body and make it as durable as possible.

Sold individually. Approximate dimensions: 3.25" (D) x 2.5" (H).

[benroticeramics]

Red Whiskey Cup

During a Reitz anagama firing, I was introduced to Dickel, a Tennessee Whiskey that became a crowd favorite. Mr. Dickel, this one’s for you….

This ware is made from earthenware clay and features bright vibrant colors. This piece is started on the wheel by making a cylinder. Once off the wheel, the piece is hand-worked to alter the surface and shape. The piece is then glazed and fired to 2100°F. After firing, the piece is sandblasted and wet/dry hand-sanded for a soft, smooth feel. Each hand-made object is unique.

You'll be pleased to know this ware is food safe and is also dishwasher safe, though I recommend a combination of the dishwasher and hand washing since the nature of handmade pots are less durable than industrial. People have been known to put my earthenware pots in the microwave, but it is not recommended it because it is the iron (metal) that is giving the clay its rich red color. This high iron content could cause pots to crack in a microwave. I do fire my clay hotter than normal earthenware in order to vitrify the body and make it as durable as possible.

Sold individually. Approximate dimensions: 3.25" (D) x 2.5" (H).

[benroticeramics]

Orange Whiskey Cup

During a Reitz anagama firing, I was introduced to Dickel, a Tennessee Whiskey that became a crowd favorite. Mr. Dickel, this one’s for you….

This ware is made from earthenware clay and features bright vibrant colors. This piece is started on the wheel by making a cylinder. Once off the wheel, the piece is hand-worked to alter the surface and shape. The piece is then glazed and fired to 2100°F. After firing, the piece is sandblasted and wet/dry hand-sanded for a soft, smooth feel. Each hand-made object is unique.

You'll be pleased to know this ware is food safe and is also dishwasher safe, though I recommend a combination of the dishwasher and hand washing since the nature of handmade pots are less durable than industrial. People have been known to put my earthenware pots in the microwave, but it is not recommended it because it is the iron (metal) that is giving the clay its rich red color. This high iron content could cause pots to crack in a microwave. I do fire my clay hotter than normal earthenware in order to vitrify the body and make it as durable as possible.

Sold individually. Approximate dimensions: 3.25" (D) x 2.5" (H).

[benroticeramics]

Orange Coffee Mug

The best part of waking up is drinking from a Roti cup. This mug comfortably holds a 12-14 oz cup of coffee or tea, and you won’t feel like you’re lifting weights when you drink from it. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the morning with this cup of joe in your hand. 

This ware is made from earthenware clay and features bright vibrant colors. This piece is started on the wheel by making a cylinder. Once off the wheel, the piece is hand-worked to alter the surface and shape. The handle is then pulled directly off the mug, everyone is tested for the perfect fit and balance. The piece is then glazed and fired to 2100°F. After firing, the piece is sandblasted and wet/dry hand-sanded for a soft, smooth feel. Each hand-made object is unique.

You'll be pleased to know this ware is food safe and is also dishwasher safe, though I recommend a combination of the dishwasher and hand washing since the nature of handmade pots are less durable than industrial. People have been known to put my earthenware pots in the microwave, but it is not recommended it because it is the iron (metal) that is giving the clay its rich red color. This high iron content could cause pots to crack in a microwave. I do fire my clay hotter than normal earthenware in order to vitrify the body and make it as durable as possible. 

Sold individually. Approximate dimensions: 5" (W) x 4” (L) x 3.5" (H). 

[benroticeramics]

Medium Blue Pitcher

This medium pitcher looks nice with flowers, but it’s excellent for pouring drinks. Liquid flows smoothly off the spout, so you can top off your tumbler with a glass of fresh-squeezed lemonade, or in my case, hand-mixed margaritas.

This ware is made from earthenware clay and features bright vibrant colors. This piece is started on the wheel by making a cylinder. Once off the wheel, the piece is hand-worked to alter the surface and shape. The handle is then pulled directly off the pitcher, everyone is tested for the perfect fit and balance. The piece is then glazed and fired to 2100°F. After firing, the piece is sandblasted and wet/dry hand-sanded for a soft, smooth feel. Each hand-made object is unique.

You'll be pleased to know this ware is food safe and is also dishwasher safe, though I recommend a combination of the dishwasher and hand washing since the nature of handmade pots are less durable than industrial. People have been known to put my earthenware pots in the microwave, but it is not recommended it because it is the iron (metal) that is giving the clay its rich red color. This high iron content could cause pots to crack in a microwave. I do fire my clay hotter than normal earthenware in order to vitrify the body and make it as durable as possible. 

Sold individually. Approximate dimensions: 6.5" (W) x 5.25” (L) x 10.5 (H). 

[benroticeramics]

Green Stein

Definition of stein

: a large mug (as of earthenware) used especially for beer also: the quantity of beer that a stein holds

Couldn’t have said it better myself Mr. Webster. Thank you.

This ware is made from earthenware clay and features bright vibrant colors. This piece is started on the wheel by making a cylinder. Once off the wheel, the piece is hand-worked to alter the surface and shape. The handle is then pulled directly off the mug, everyone is tested for the perfect fit and balance. The piece is then glazed and fired to 2100°F. After firing, the piece is sandblasted and wet/dry hand-sanded for a soft, smooth feel. Each hand-made object is unique.

You'll be pleased to know this ware is food safe and is also dishwasher safe, though I recommend a combination of the dishwasher and hand washing since the nature of handmade pots are less durable than industrial. People have been known to put my earthenware pots in the microwave, but it is not recommended it because it is the iron (metal) that is giving the clay its rich red color. This high iron content could cause pots to crack in a microwave. I do fire my clay hotter than normal earthenware in order to vitrify the body and make it as durable as possible. 

Sold individually. Approximate dimensions: 5" (W) x 3.5” (L) x 6" (H). 

[benroticeramics]

Blue Whiskey Bottle

I like to live by the wise words of Ron Swanson, who once said “Whiskey is the nectar of the Gods.” This bottle is the perfect form to hold Mr. Swanson’s sweet nectar. The cork cap keeps those fluids in from any accidental bumps of this object.

This ware is made from earthenware clay and features bright vibrant colors. This piece is started on the wheel by making a cylinder. Once off the wheel, the piece is hand-worked to alter the surface and shape. The handle is then pulled directly off the pitcher, everyone is tested for the perfect fit and balance. The piece is then glazed and fired to 2100°F. After firing, the piece is sandblasted and wet/dry hand-sanded for a soft, smooth feel. Each hand-made object is unique.

You'll be pleased to know this ware is food safe and is also dishwasher safe, though I recommend a combination of the dishwasher and hand washing since the nature of handmade pots are less durable than industrial. People have been known to put my earthenware pots in the microwave, but it is not recommended it because it is the iron (metal) that is giving the clay its rich red color. This high iron content could cause pots to crack in a microwave. I do fire my clay hotter than normal earthenware in order to vitrify the body and make it as durable as possible. 

Sold individually. Approximate dimensions: 3.75" (D) x 10(H). 

[benroticeramics]

Soda Fired Mug

The best part of waking up is drinking from a Roti cup. This mug comfortably holds a 12-14 oz cup of coffee or tea, and you won’t feel like you’re lifting weights when you drink from it. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the morning with this cup of joe in your hand. 

This ware is made from high fire clay and features flashing from the flame in the atmospheric soda kiln. The piece is glazed fired to 2350°F. Each hand-made object is unique.

You'll be pleased to know this ware is food safe and is also dishwasher safe, though I recommend a combination of the dishwasher and hand washing since the nature of handmade pots are less durable than industrial. People have been known to put my earthenware pots in the microwave, but it is not recommended it because it is the iron (metal) that is giving the clay its rich red color. This high iron content could cause pots to crack in a microwave. I do fire my clay hotter than normal earthenware in order to vitrify the body and make it as durable as possible. 

Sold individually. Approximate dimensions: 4.75" (W) x 3.5” (L) x 4.5" (H). 

[benroticeramics]

Small Red Pitcher

This small pitcher looks nice with flowers, but it’s excellent for pouring drinks. Liquid flows smoothly off the spout, so you can top off your tumbler with a glass of fresh-squeezed limeade, or in my case, a small hand-mixed mojito.

This ware is made from earthenware clay and features bright vibrant colors. This piece is started on the wheel by making a cylinder. Once off the wheel, the piece is hand-worked to alter the surface and shape. The handle is then pulled directly off the pitcher, everyone is tested for the perfect fit and balance. The piece is then glazed and fired to 2100°F. After firing, the piece is sandblasted and wet/dry hand-sanded for a soft, smooth feel. Each hand-made object is unique.

You'll be pleased to know this ware is food safe and is also dishwasher safe, though I recommend a combination of the dishwasher and hand washing since the nature of handmade pots are less durable than industrial. People have been known to put my earthenware pots in the microwave, but it is not recommended it because it is the iron (metal) that is giving the clay its rich red color. This high iron content could cause pots to crack in a microwave. I do fire my clay hotter than normal earthenware in order to vitrify the body and make it as durable as possible. 

Sold individually. Approximate dimensions: 7" (W) x 5.75” (L) x 12 (H). 

[benroticeramics]

Green Pitcher

This large pitcher looks nice with flowers, but it’s excellent for pouring drinks. Liquid flows smoothly off the spout, so you can top off your tumbler with a glass of fresh-squeezed lemonade, or in my case, a large hand-mixed margarita.

This ware is made from earthenware clay and features bright vibrant colors. This piece is started on the wheel by making a cylinder. Once off the wheel, the piece is hand-worked to alter the surface and shape. The handle is then pulled directly off the pitcher, everyone is tested for the perfect fit and balance. The piece is then glazed and fired to 2100°F. After firing, the piece is sandblasted and wet/dry hand-sanded for a soft, smooth feel. Each hand-made object is unique.

You'll be pleased to know this ware is food safe and is also dishwasher safe, though I recommend a combination of the dishwasher and hand washing since the nature of handmade pots are less durable than industrial. People have been known to put my earthenware pots in the microwave, but it is not recommended it because it is the iron (metal) that is giving the clay its rich red color. This high iron content could cause pots to crack in a microwave. I do fire my clay hotter than normal earthenware in order to vitrify the body and make it as durable as possible. 

Sold individually. Approximate dimensions: 7" (W) x 5.75” (L) x 12 (H).