“I got hooked on the element of surprise,” says Ann Marie Cooper about her serendipitous career as a ceramic artist and her work with clay coiling that she learned from her teacher Pat Morse.
Ann Marie had worked for a gallery in La Conner that featured Linda Stone’s work. This led to a part-time job at Good Earth Pottery, co-owned by Linda Stone. After encountering local potters who sold their work at the gallery, Ann Marie felt inspired to enroll in pottery classes at Whatcom Community College.
Eventually, Ann Marie enrolled in more at Baker Creek Ceramics in Bellingham’s Iron Gate district. And more serendipity occurred when Ann Marie studied with a teacher who would alter her artistic path.
“Working at Good Earth Pottery is more than a job for me, it is my life,” says Ann Marie. “My friends, my community, my career have all blossomed from this one root, and I’m so thankful for it. I met the teacher who opened my clay world wide open through Good Earth. I owe so much to Patricia Morse for teaching me to coil clay.”
Ann Marie’s venture into pottery began in high school when she took a pottery class her final quarter and fell in love with the art form. Then, while earning her degree at Western Washington University, she wanted to enroll in a pottery class that was restricted to art majors. However, her love of the natural world and more of that serendipity reunited Ann Marie with clay.
While pottery symbolizes the earth, Ann Marie’s work, which features animals, reveals a connection to an enchanted earth. Often her pottery depicts owls and domestic animals such as dogs. And in the past year, butterflies have also entered the menagerie.
“My favorite things to create include imagery — usually animals, leaves or trees. It’s exciting and challenging to try to create an illustration backward (I have to be very careful when using numbers or letters!). When I get to the point where I smooth down the final coils on the back (or inside), it looks like a pile of chaos, but once it’s firm enough to flip it over its magic. I’m generally pretty pleased with the results, but if not, I smoosh it up and start over,” explains Ann Marie of her process.
While Ann Marie currently works from her backyard studio in the Columbia Neighborhood, from 2012 to 2015 she honed her craft at a studio in the Morgan Block Building. Surrounded by artists such as Ben Mann, Nancy Canyon, and others, she experienced networking opportunities.
“Those years are precious to me. Not only did I have my own little retreat to focus on improving my clay skills for hours without distraction (if I chose), but I also developed lasting friendships that I treasure,” shares Ann Marie. “Those relationships helped me learn to navigate this art world in which I’ve found myself; relationships that continue to offer support and encouragement.”
Similar to other working artists in Bellingham, Ann Marie teaches what she practices. More serendipity led her to teach classes at Columbia Elementary.
“The school had a kiln and needed a parent volunteer to run it and things sort of snowballed from there. It’s been a wonderful experience to watch the kids’ skills develop over the years. They have such raw, unfettered enthusiasm for clay,” explains Ann Marie.
In addition, she teaches adult students at Baker Creek Ceramics and Moshier Art Center as well. For adults wanting to learn Clay Coil and other pottery techniques, Ann Marie says, “I also have developed a workshop in my Clay Coil Illustration for adults and older children. I generally teach this at Baker Creek Ceramic Studio, but have taken it south to Moshier Art Center in Burien.”
And if that does not keep the clay artist busy, as of July she officially became co-owner (along with Deb Martin) of Good Earth Pottery. Ann Marie bought out her mentor Linda Stone’s share. On most days we’ll find Ann Marie wandering around the unique pottery of Pacific Northwest artists, mainly from Whatcom and Skagit counties at the Fairhaven District shop. Her work is on display at the front of the store near the front counter, surrounded by large platters and glass jewelry.
For people who don’t want to get their hands covered in clay but would like to grace their home with Ann Marie’s unique offerings, her work is available for purchase at Good Earth Pottery and through her website.
“Good Earth Pottery is my main source of sales, but I also have work in other regional galleries, and one in Mississippi,” says Ann Marie. “I do travel to various art festivals in the area.”
Register for classes through her website or Baker Creek Ceramics.
