My Apprenticeship with Mark Rossier: Beginning

On January 18th, 2026, I went in to Mark Rossier's studio for the first time. I got in my car and drove the quick fifteen minutes to Niwot, and arriving felt like pulling into a dream. He lives in a beautiful house with a gorgeous yard, a brick patio, two cats, his wife, and a dirt path that leads to the studio in the back.

I walked into his showroom and was greeted by pale yellows from soda-fired cups, cows slip-trailed on mugs, glassy blue-green leaves creeping around his forms, and large statement jars standing guard under the shelves.

I'd reached out to him over email, initially asking about his kiln and whether or not he was firing soon, but also to get to know his background in ceramics and how it was that he made a living as a full time potter. That, after all, was my dream too. Of course I was nervous, and my typical extroverted self took a back seat so the student could come forward. I respected his work already, and knew I was lucky to be sitting in the room with him.

Luckily for me, Mark Rossier is one of the sweetest people you will meet. He is a wicked potter with an amazing background in the medium, and he happens to have an amazingly large heart. I introduced myself to him and sat down on a folding stool across from his wheel while he threw a few pots. Watching him work was like seeing plants grow before my eyes. He has such seemingly simple conversations with the clay that allow full bellied mugs and pitchers to appear before him with ease.

I asked him how he got into ceramics, and he told me that, after college, he went to work with Stephen Kilborn in Taos, New Mexico. He pointed out some of Stephen's work on the shelf above the wheel where I work now. There's a large mug with a silly dancing skeleton glazed on the side, and a plate that is absolutely covered in chili peppers. He told me how he also went on to work for Simon Pierce in Vermont, and how that changed the way he threw, informing his feelings about the world of ceramics today.

Imagine making pots in a room full of experienced production potters sitting side by side while the general public comes in to watch what you're doing. Talking to customers was a large part of their job, and connecting with each other made the experience rather enjoyable so far as I can tell. Mark says that Simon personally changed the way he learned how to center clay, and I can see what throwing those same forms over and over again did for his skills. He also learned beautiful brushwork from Miranda Thomas Shackleton in Vermont and has made bowls for weddings and newborns with her stunning calligraphy style depicting dates, names and beautiful flowers and critters. Mark has developed a beautifully personal visual language and style that attract customers and galleries from across the country. not to mention his mugs being some of the most comfortable to grace my cabinets.

We talked and talked about how many new studios are opening in the Denver and Boulder areas, how they are handling the influx of students, and whether or not we think they will stick around for many years or be a passing fad. We talked about the spirit of clay, and what it feels like to teach dedicated students. I asked how he feels pottery has changed and we talked about how apprenticeships are extremely hard to come by, as are ethical production pottery jobs that pay a living wage. It's hard to be a full time potter these days, especially if you are one who doesn't want to spend hours upon hours creating content about your products and teachings for social media.

I left the studio after that lovely conversation not knowing it would be the first of many. Mark reached out to me two days later and said, "Good morning Jordan! I enjoyed our conversation on Sunday and I keep thinking about some of the things we discussed. I have some thoughts and ideas I'd like to run by you around teaching and soda firing and wonder if you'd be available for a part two of the conversation? My schedule is pretty flexible these days." Naturally, I jumped out of my skin with excitement, so we scheduled another time to get together.

I didn't expect him to offer to have me use his studio for three weeks in March while he and his wife were out of town, and I certainly didn't expect for us to talk shop and create work every week for the last six months together. Though, after he watched me throw, that is exactly what came to pass.

Mark Rossier and his pots have taught me more about ceramics than I can put into words. Working with him not only helps me develop as a potter, but also as a teacher and a person. Thank you for being such an incredible mentor, I could not be more grateful for you, Mud Man. Here's to months to come!

-Jordan

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