Jon Oakes
Jon has been handcrafting his unique Raku vessels for over 15 years. Glazed for iridescence with a crackling texture, his pottery combines the centuries old Japanese firing technique (Raku) with modern design. Each piece is a hand-signed work of art, and no two are alike. A high school teacher gave Jon the inspiration that defined his life and career. Born in Minneapolis and raised in North Dakota, Jon had little exposure to the arts. When his high school teach recognized his talent and aptitude, she dug out a dusty old potter’s wheel from a closet and sat Jon down. Jon was immediately comfortable and knew even then that “I was meant to throw clay!” Jon took ceramics classes in college and realized art would be his life and clay his first love. Intrigued by the art and culture, Jon was especially fascinated with the art of Japanese potters. After years of trial and error, in 1983 he finally mastered the techniques for which he is now famous. Starting with a hand-thrown adobe vessel, a combination of clay, paint and glaze are carefully added and fired in a blazing Raku kiln. The piece is then placed red-hot into a sealed chamber filled with dried eucalyptus leaves or seaweed where a combination of smoke and flame create the distinctive Raku finish.