Alsen Raku Pottery

It takes creative vision and a skilled hand to turn a lump of clay into ceramic form and function.

When we think of pottery, we usually imagine dinner plates, handsome pasta bowls or beautifully glazed casserole dishes. Wondering what inspiration guides the hand that makes whimsical, flirtatious clay animals like those made by potter Peter Alsen?

“The animals have almost taken over,” Alsen says during a phone interview from his studio in Idleyld Park. “It’s about 80 percent of what I make now, but I like doing something different than what other potters do.”

Each piece is handmade and fired in Oregon. Due to the handmade process, glazes and facial features may vary. The overall look of the piece will stay the same, however.