Michael F. McDonald, Ceramics

This is a photo of the finished pot - still raw and unfired. We'll see how it changes during the bisque and glaze firings!

A couple of hours condensed into one minute. This is how I use slip and underglaze to paint patterns on my pieces. It's fun to experiment with color combinations like this.
#handthrownceramics #handmade #workinprogress #handthrownvase #pottersofbluesky #queerartist #pottery #ceramics

Over the next couple of months I'll be pushing myself to create pieces worthy of this incredible opportunity. Here is one that just came out of the kiln on Monday that I'm sure will end up in the show. For those who have supported me in this journey, I am so very grateful.

I recently found out that I was awarded a show at the Multnomah Arts Center here in Portland. I'll be 1 of 2 artists showing from Feb 27 - April 4, 2026.
www.multnomahartscenter.org/gallery-cale...
#handthrownceramics #pottery #GalleryArt #handthrownpottery #handmade #queerartist #pottersofbluesky

Another vase from yesterday's kiln, this one about 11 inches tall. My husband, who is not a big fan of the color red, really likes this color combination. I'm taking that as a win. 😊 What do you think?
#pottersofbluesky #queerartist #queerart #handmade #handthrownvase #pottery #handthrownpottery

New vase fresh from the kiln! I hope you like my slip painting work. ❤️
#pottersofbluesky #queerartist #queerart #handmade #handthrownvase #pottery #handthrownpottery

A set of nested petal bowls, with some fun glaze combinations. I can get lost in the close up shot, which shows how the glazes swirled together in the heat of the kiln.
#pottersofbluesky #queerartist #queerart #handmade #handthrownbowl #pottery #handthrownpottery

Art as a means of resistance. My outrage at the state of affairs these days spills into my ceramics work. Among other things, I support a woman's unconditional right to choose.
#PlannedParenthood #handmade #pottery #ceramics #pottersofbluesky #HandmadeMugs #queerartist #queerart #handthrownpottery

I unloaded a new kiln full of work today, here's one of the ones I like the most. This lidded form is Black with yellow flowers and orange centers, and stands about 11 inches high.
#handmadevase #pottery #ceramics #handthrownpottery #queerartist #handmade #pottersofbluesky #queerart

These will be in my stash that will be for sale at the Oregon Potters Association Summer Fair:
Dates: July 11-13
Times: 9a-5p each day
Where: Portland Nursery, 5050 SE Start Street, Portland, OR
Free admission. Look for us in the greenhouse!
I hope you can come by and say hello!

Fresh from the kiln today - a couple of lidded forms, finally done!
#handmadevase #pottery #ceramics #handthrownpottery #queerartistsofinstagram #queerartist #moonjar #handmade

Rarely, I am proud of one of my pieces. This is one. It's finished, but hasn't yet been bisque fired or glaze fired - it's still raw clay (a.k.a. greenware). Stay tuned!
#handmade #pottery #ceramics #handthrownpottery #pottersofbluesky #queerartist #moonjar

Recently I've been doing a lot of slip painting, but I took a break from that with this piece. I still loves me some drippy glaze. 😊
#pottery #handmadevase #queerartist #ceramics #pottersofbluesky #handthrownpottery #queerart

In a couple of weeks our studio will be hosting a critique session provided by members of the Oregon Potters Association, and I'm thinking these two pieces will be submitted for feedback. Wish me luck! 🙃

The second vase also has leaves on the vines - a new thing for me, creating using a cake decorating tip to pipe the slip onto the vase.

The first: flame orange with lime green inside as well as at the center of the flowers. The second: turquoise with a white interior and an orange pop in the center of each flower.

Today was kiln unload day! These two vases were in the batch. I hope you like them!
#pottery #queerartist #ceramics #pottersofbluesky #queerart #handmadevase #handthrownpottery #handmadevase

Yep, never had that happen before. Weird!

Was there an imperceptible fracture in the raw clay body? I'll never know. 🤷‍♂️

I was bisque firing a couple of pieces, and when I opened the kiln I discovered that the rim had blown off of this vase. Was there a bit of organic matter in the clay? Was there moisture left inside? (The latter is unlikely, since I did a 6 hour pre-heat at 180 degrees).

There are many lessons to be learned as a ceramic artist. One is to never get too attached to a piece you're creating. See comments for more on what happened.
#pottery #queerartist #queerartistsofinstagram #ceramics #handmadevase #handthrownpottery #lettinggo

Decoration Day! 2.5 hours condensed into 2.5 minutes. Slip painting and sgraffito.
#pottersofbluesky #pnwpotter #queerartist #queerart #pottersofbluesky #pottery #handmade #handmadevase #handmademug

Four new (completed) vases, fresh out of the kiln! I'm really enjoying playing with color. What's your favorite?
#pottery #queerartist #pottersofbluesky #ceramics #handmadevase #handthrownpottery #handmadevase

Preach! ❤️

Work in progress. The next crop of vases - just out from the bisque firing, before being glazed.
#pottery #queerartist #pottersofbluesky #ceramics #handthrownpottery #handmade #handmadevase #workinprogress

A red vase I just finished; this one is now available for purchase in my Etsy shop, along with several others! singingpottershop.etsy.com
#pottery #queerartist #queerart #ceramics #handthrownpottery #handmade #handmadevase #pottersofbluesky

Blue and Green vases, decorated with slip and carvings. Soon to be listed on my Etsy shop - probably by next week. 😊
#pottery #queerartist #queerart #ceramics #handthrownpottery #handmade #handmadevase #pottersofbluesky

This is a slip painted vase, about 7 inches tall, I threw it on the wheel, painted it with black engobe, then I painted uncolored (white) slip flowers on top. Finally I carved the vines/stems, cutting through the black engobe to the raw clay underneath. I hope you like it!

New work, fresh from the kiln. See comments for details. I have many others that I'll be posting soon, this just happens to be the one I like best. 😊
#pottery #queerartist #pottersofbluesky #ceramics #handthrownpottery #handmade #handmadevase #queerpotter

Three of my pieces will be featured in this upcoming art show, which runs from April 4th to May 10th at the Multnomah Arts Center (Portland, OR). They chose to feature one of my pieces in the promotional material! 😁
#pottery #queerartist #ceramics #handthrownpottery #handmade #pottersofbluesky