Encore Studio, Esther Murphy

OMST Blog by Pam Parziale  

July 23. 2025          2-minute read 

Esther has been working in Encore Studio, her sunlit space looking out past a rock wall and gardens with blue blossoms. An accomplished potter, she is throwing porcelain, a demanding and unforgiving clay. “I want to make something I can’t quite perfect. I want to experiment, to stretch, to take time to think about what I can do on the wheel.” 

“It will be better next time,” Esther says, remembering her first attempts at throwing a pot on a wheel. Spending a few Monday evenings at the Alexandria Torpedo Factory clay studio, moving on to once a week classes with Bill Van Gilder, finally settling in with a community of potters at the Pottery Guild of Frederick, all played a part in her quest to make the next pot even better than the last. 

Esther was exposed to pottery by her husband Tim’s mother, who made gifts for friends and family from Montana clay. “The pots were brown, functional,” she recalls. Then living in Hawaii, she saw pots made within an Asian cultural tradition, glazed in exuberant colors and fanciful brushwork. 

A potter who loves to cook is a given among all potters I know. Esther tells of big family gatherings around the table. “Sharing food is special,” she says with an easy smile. This is a strong incentive for her to make functional pots, a bowl for soup, a cup for tea, casseroles and vessels for serving. In a reflective moment, she says, “Shepherdstown is a wonderful place where we landed. It is a strong community. The Over the Mountain Studio Tour with a diverse mix of artists and craftworkers provides inspiration. I enjoy the feedback. Sharing is important.” 

Today she selected a few favorites from a recent kiln firing, bowls with black and blue sgraffito,  designs incised into the white glaze. As she hands a pot to me, the bowl’s curve nestles perfectly into my hands. “But now I want to fire pots in a sagger, to see what a change in the kiln atmosphere will do. It’s a challenge.” We both laugh. “It may be better next time.” I look forward to her encore.