“We decided we’ll buy the lot and try and build our own [pottery],” Kinsey said.
Kinsey said she previously taught ceramics at The Woodlands High School and saw a strong interest from parents in the community for the art form.
“Lots of times I would get questions from parents like, ‘Where can we go throw? We’d like to try out pottery sometime too. You should have a session for the parents,’” Kinsey said.
Seeing that desire from people for a pottery studio, Kinsey and Jesse looked at several properties before stumbling on a lot at 33218 Sweetgum Lane in Magnolia, south of FM 1488 and east of FM 2978.
Spending nearly two years building the studio, Woodland Lane Ceramics opened in July 2021.
“We’re lucky and ended up getting two students our first week [in] our first class,” Kinsey said. “They’re still here. We love them.”
Although both the five-week and 12-week pottery classes are near capacity, Woodland Lane Ceramics continues to introduce people to the art form through its one-off workshops, such as a marbled pot-throwing session.
“It’s just taken off pretty immediately,” Jesse said. “It’s just been really surprising how many people have found out about this and come to do it.”
Kinsey said the pottery studio has about 60 students total.
Kinsey is also working to bring other ceramists into the studio for workshops, she said. This September, Woodland Lane had a representative from Mayco, a ceramics products company, come by and teach students different glazing techniques.
“I really want this to be a ceramic arts center,” Kinsey said. “We’re not just something you come to and play once. You can come learn different things; it’s very educational.”
In addition to Kinsey’s background in art as a ceramics teacher, Jesse is a colored pencil artist. However, the couple saw a need for more resources for those interested in ceramic arts.
“There’s not really a lot of potteries in the area,” Kinsey said.
Whether they are putting on workshops or just walking students through a new technique, Kinsey and Jesse said they enjoy introducing people to pottery and watching them grow as artists, the couple said.
“We have a really good community,” Kinsey said. “I think it’s why people keep sticking around.”
So far, the location has developed largely through word of mouth in the community, Jesse said.
“It’s just taken off pretty immediately,” he said. “It’s just been really surprising how many people have found out about this and come to do it.”
From clay to creation
It takes several steps to turn a block of clay into a piece of pottery, owner Kinsey Lane said.
Step 1: Wedging: After getting a section of clay, it must be wedged—or kneaded—to remove any air bubbles.
Step 2: Sculpting: Once the piece of clay is on the pottery wheel, it is sculpted into whatever shape desired, such as a vase, bowl or mug.
Step 3: Drying: Once sculpted, the clay dries on the wheel, at which time attachments can be added to the piece.
Step 4: First firing: After drying further, the clay is fired in the kiln to become bisque.
Step 5: Glazing: Glaze can be added to give the pottery color.
Step 6: Second firing: Once the glaze has been added, the pottery is fired a second and final time.
