New Painting After Long Layoff

I have taken a bit of a break from pottery and painting for a while since my show in November. With the Holidays happening, and play rehearsals at my school starting up, I have had to put it on hold for a bit, but you can be sure that I will be back at it soon. I hope to do a few more shows this year, so once spring break rolls around I will be back at it. In the meantime I do have a new painting to post.

My wife Elise asked me to do a painting for her sister Kalina for her baby shower. Kalina and her husband Travis are adopting a boy from Korea. Isaiah will be joining us over here soon, and so I painted a sumi-e tree for Isaiah's room. It represents his family tree, and the loving family he will be apart of over here. At the shower everyone there wrote a word of encouragement on a leaf made out of Korean hanji paper for Kalina, Travis, and Isaiah to put on the tree .

I usually paint bamboo when doing sumi-e, so this was my first attempt at a tree. I hope Isaiah likes it, even though it is Japanese brush painting.



Title: "The Isaiah Tree"

Show a Success

The Coastal Hills Art Tour was a big success for me. I came with 36 pieces of pottery, and I sold 32 of those pieces. I also received orders for more. If you are still interested in placing a order call me or email me. My contact info is listed on this page at the top right.

Dan Willis

"Newest Pieces"

I have three more pieces photographed and ready to display on the blog. Now this post is entitled "Newest Pieces" with the quotations because they are not new pieces, just new to the blog. They have been on display at the Currents Gallery in McMinnville. Two pieces I made in college, and one of them I made about a year ago. Leave a comment and tell me what you think.

Picture #1: Black and White Crackle Tea Pot (made winter 2008)

Picture #2: Wood Fired Tea Pot (made spring 2002)

Picture # 3: Black and White Jug (made spring 2000)

Art in Progress

I am hoping to have about 40 pieces of art in all for the Coastal Hills Art Tour. I am getting there, but I still have a ways to go. Here is a list of what I want to have done, and where I am at so far:


-8 McMinnville Mud Mugs (2 done, 5 bisqued, 1 drying)

-10 Mugs of assorted glazes (8 done, 2 bisqued)

-5 Garlic Holders (3 bisqued, 2 drying)

-5 Bluegrass Jugs (4 bisqued, 1 drying)

-2 Oil & Vinegar sets

-1 set of Nesting Bowls

-2 Tea Pots (2 done)

-2 Wall Hanging Platters (1 bisqued)

-4 Sumi-e Paintings (2 done, 2 to go)


This year I am going to have less "artistic" pieces and more reasonably prices functional pieces that are still of course very artistic! I will have a few high priced pieces of pottery and several paintings, but the majority of my work this year will be very affordable, great for Christmas gifts for friends and family, or maybe for yourself.

Willamina Coastal Hills Art Tour 2009

This year, after a few years off, I am back as one of the featured artists in the Coastal Hills Art Tour in Willamina, Oregon. It takes place on November 13th and 14th from 9:00 am till 5:00 pm. This is always a lot of fun, and a great way to kick off the holiday season. Join me and 11 other artists for a great fall weekend.

New Pottery for Art Tour

If you like what you see make sure and come to the Willamina Coastal Hills Art Tour (see above). More pictures are to come, and finished bluegrass jugs are coming soon. If you can't make it to the tour, but are still interested in some of these pieces, contact me and place an order. All mugs are $7 each. McMinnville Mud Mugs (bottom picture) are $10 each.

Leave me a comment about which one is your favorite. I would like to know your opinion on your favorite glazes.

Picture #1: Jade Green Mugs

Picture #2: Weathered Copper Mugs

Picture #3: Sea Green Mugs

Picture #4: Black Crackle Mug

Picture #5: Rutile Jar

Picture #6: Bluegrass Jug (unglazed)

Picture #7: McMinnville Mud Mugs

New Paintings

This is a painting I did for my wife Elise. She wanted one to put in our downstars bathroom. If you want to buy it you will have to talk to her. Sorry.








"True Devotion" SOLD

This painting is one that was commissioned. Sorry, not for sale.