CRAFTING TIME FOR NEST EGG

Retired art teacher runs pottery studio from home

A retired art teacher is running a ceramic art studio from workspace he built next to his Grafton Township home.

Joe Filipiak is the artist who runs Hawk’s Nest Art Studio, 16540 Chamberlain Road, where he produces designs of beautiful pottery works.

“I got really into ceramics when I was in college, 1967, at Kent State (University),” Filipiak said. “In (1969), I started teaching art, and shortly after, I started doing some craft shows for supplemental employment.

“I was with Elyria (City) Schools, that’s where I started out. I was there for eight years. I was primarily at Northwood (Middle School). But, in the summertime, I was at Roosevelt and Ely (elementary schools),” Filipiak said. “I also started out at Elyria High School.”

Filipiak said he went to Midview Local Schools where he worked for 27 years.

“I was the art and music director for the district,” he said. “I was the chairman of the art and music department for the High School as well.

"...ceramics I just really enjoy. It’s probably because in college, it was my biggest challenge; it’s creating with the hands." — Joe Filipiak

“So, it was a fun schedule. During that time, I also spent 10 years teaching a ceramics night class at LCCC (Lorain County Community College). So, in 35 years of teaching, I taught everything from first-grade to college.”

Filipiak said he retired in 2004, and built his art studio.

“It’s a barn-style structure that’s heated, and I create in here,” he said. “I used to do a lot of shows, but now, I’m primarily on Etsy.

“I used to do mass production, and now it’s down to custom pottery. The orders come in and I make what folks want. My website (www.hawksnestartstudio.com) has recently been revised, and it has a lot of the sample items and things I’ve done in the past; it gives people a good idea of what they might want.

“But, I also do plenty of jobs where someone calls up with a particular idea, and I make it for them.”

Filipiak said he always has leaned toward threedimensional art.

“But, I also do plenty of jobs where someone calls up with a particular idea, and I make it for them.” — Joe Filipiak, artist

“People that are in the arts are either two-dimensional or three-dimensionally oriented,” he said. “It doesn’t mean you don’t do one or the other, but you prefer one.

“I’ve done stone sculptures, I’ve done wood sculptures and ceramics I just really enjoy. It’s probably because in college, it was my biggest challenge; it’s creating with the hands.

“Even though I do mostly ceramics, I still do portraits, stained glass and things like that.”

ZACHARY SRNIS — THE MORNING JOURNAL Joe Filipiak, the artist from Hawk’s Nest Art Studio in Grafton Township, makes pottery using a hand wheel.

ZACHARY SRNIS — THE MORNING JOURNAL Samples of Joe Filipiak’s pottery point to his creative possibilities.