Anne Raven Jorgensen

I was born in 1955, in Helsingborg, Sweden.  This is the southern end of the country, an area where there are many potters living and working.  I grew up here and as a child would accompany my mother and grandmother when they visited the local potters.  To me it was absolutely amazing to watch these artist take a lump of clay and turn it into a beautiful and functional piece of art.  I have a need to create so I decided that I would try to make pots.  1979, I went to Denmark to Vraa Frolkhojskole for classes.  I took pottery and art classes there, as well as met my future husband.   

Together we moved to Sweden  in 1980, where we were married.  I attended Ostra Grevie Folkhogskola studying ceramics as my husband learned Swedish.  In 1981, I emigrated to the United States and we moved to California.  We eventually ended up in North Carolina, where we are still living.  In 1985, I decided I wanted to further my ceramics knowledge and took classes at  Montgomery Community College.  I also began apprenticing with some local potters in Seagrove who were kind enough to teach me even more.  From, 1986 to 1989, I apprenticed at Ben Owen Pottery and Turn and Burn Pottery.  And in 1990, I opened my own shop Raven pottery, here in Seagrove, NC.Every pot that I make is a step to the next one and I always feel that this next pot will be better than the last one...and the next one even better.  I feel like I am still learning and this gives me hope and courage to go and try new ideas and techniques. My pots are all related to each other and when I use a new technique on one pot it will show up again on something else.  Sometimes this works very well and sometimes not so well, but maybe with a bit  of alteration,  I can find a whole new direction.  My adventure in the "big clay toy-box" continues and I hope it never stops.  My pots are all either thrown on the wheel and then altered or made from slabs of clay.  I spend a lot of time decorating my pieces with wax-resist in intricate geometric designs.  I also do a lot of decorating with slips in floral designs.

It is my sincere hope that you enjoy my work and that if you choose to live with a piece it will make you feel good for years.