Meet the Maker
My name is Jonathan Mark. I am 24 years old and based in Colorado Springs. For as long as I can remember, I have enjoyed any activity that gives me a hands-on and tactile experience. As a kid, I loved tinkering with anything that had a motor, from RC trains to cars, trucks, planes, helicopters, or model rockets. If there were gears, wheels, or fire, you count me in! On the flip side, I was also quite a perceptive and creative kid. I was never good in front of an audience, and you’d never see me in the front row of a classroom. I would express myself in ways that allowed me to be more anonymous, like drawing, painting, photography, writing, and ultimately clay. These qualities followed me into my young adult life, and many of them still ring true today. In the present day, my time is split between making as much beautiful pottery as I can, coaching a rock climbing team, and exploring the outdoors.
About me.
My Pottery Journey.
I took my first Pottery class as a Sophomore in high school in 2016. I was 14, and this was my first exposure to a real pottery class where our teacher took anyone willing to learn from ground zero to becoming a decent potter. I was very lucky to have a fantastic teacher and one of the biggest high school studios in the state of Virginia. The teacher’s name is Mr. Corgliano, aka Mr. C; and he was the first person who really sparked my passion for the craft. So much so that I was in at least one pottery class every year for the next 6 years. All through high school and then two and a half years at PPSC. Over those 6 years, I won two Gold Key awards for best of show in ceramics and one Certificate of Excellence in a Juried Student Exhibition. With my mentor’s guidance, countless hours on the wheel, and thousands of pots made, I can confidently say every piece of pottery that leaves my studio is my best work and something I can be proud of.
When I’m not in the studio, you’ll probably find me rock climbing, fishing, camping, or climbing to the top of the nearest mountain. The mountains are my happy place, and I am heavily inspired by Colorado’s forests, rivers, lakes, and rocky peaks.