Join us on the Colour and Ceramics Podcast today as our host Bob Acton @bobacton strums up an exciting conversation with Vancouver's vibrant artist Suzy Birstein @suzy_birstein! Hold onto your mugs as we dive into Suzy's world of whimsical, figurative ceramic works and paintings. Ready for some artful chit-chat? Tune in! Check out her work at https://www.suzybirstein.com/

Join Bob, Jess, and Rob Sutherland, founders of Good Dirt Studio in Athens, Georgia—a dynamic ceramics space dedicated to creativity, community, and clay on today's podcast episode.

As artists and educators, Jess and Rob have cultivated a welcoming environment where students of all levels can explore the joy of working with their hands. Through their thoughtful teaching and community-focused approach, they’ve built more than just a studio—they’ve created a space for connection, curiosity, and artistic growth. Today on Colour and Ceramics, we talk about their journey, their philosophy on teaching, and how they’re shaping the clay community in Athens and beyond.

And, of course, their pottery and approach to ceramic art.

You can find their work on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/gooddirt_athens/ and on their website at https://www.gooddirt.net/

Bob Acton, the host of the Colour and Ceramics Podcast, shares his conversation with CJ Jilek.

CJ creates beautiful, colourful work that is inspired by the sensuality of nature. Her work explores the connection between botanical forms and human sexuality. By abstracting flower blooms and focusing on their reproductive elements, she invites viewers to engage with themes of beauty, desire, and attraction—drawing subconscious links between the natural world and human instinct..

Her work can be found on her Instagram page at https://www.instagram.com/cjjilek/ and on her website at https://cjjilekartist.wordpress.com/

Welcome to today’s episode! In this conversation, Bob sits down with the incredibly talented Emily Stubbs to dive into her journey with clay—how it all began, the evolution of her stunning work, and some fascinating insights into the techniques she uses in her ceramics practice.

Emily’s work is both playful and refined, with a unique voice that really stands out in the world of contemporary ceramics.

You can check out her creations at emilystubbs.com and follow her studio life on Instagram @emilystubbsceramics.

Let’s get into it—enjoy the show!

Sandy Brown is a renowned British ceramic artist celebrated for her expressive, spontaneous approach to clay. Her work is characterized by bold colors, free-flowing brushwork, and an energetic, intuitive style that challenges conventional ceramic traditions. After being introduced to ceramics in Japan, Sandy learned there that pots can be dynamic, exciting, free, and irregular. She has since built an international reputation, creating large-scale installations, sculptural ceramics, and functional pottery that exude a sense of freedom and joy. With a career spanning decades, Brown continues to push boundaries, inspiring both artists and collectors with her dynamic, uninhibited approach to ceramics.

https://sandybrownarts.co.uk/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sandy.brown.904108

Welcome to the Colour and Ceramics Podcast. Today's episode is with Karen Adams from Lush Brush Studios.

Karen is a sculptor and painter based in Roswell, Georgia in the USA. She does some lovely sculptures using multi-media and found objects. You can find her website and Instagram sites here https://lush-brush.com/ and https://www.instagram.com/kalushbrush/

A big warm welcome to Jack Durling, a wonderful animal sculptor and conservationist from the UK. Jack @jackdurlingceramics and Bob Acton @bobacton had a great conversation about Jack's work, how he approaches his work and, of course, surface design.

You can find Jack at his website at https://www.jackdurling.co.uk/

Enjoy the show!

Bob Acton, host of the Colour and Ceramics Podcast, shares a lovely conversation he had with Susan Halls from Yorkshire in the UK. They talked her approach to ceramics and, of course, colour and surface design. I hope you enjoy the show.

Susan can be found on her website at https://susanhalls.com/ and on her Instagram page at https://www.instagram.com/susanhallsceramicsuk/