Grand Prairie Designs

Here’s a pic of our new kiln.. Just in time for a bunch of new work for this year's STUDIO TOUR! The studio is open the rest of today and all next weekend!

Our first of two ARTrails weekends begins tomorrow! We’ve got great work to share with you, fresh out of the kiln!

We’ve got all sorts of beautiful pieces in the farm gallery right now! Please call ahead to make an appointment to come and shop!

The sun may come and go today; we’re open and ready to see you, no matter the weather!

Fresh out of the kiln vibes 🔥

Drumroll please! Although he really needs no introduction, our eighth featured artist of the Summer Solstice show is Richard Roth. In addition to his ongoing functional work, he’s excited to share the evolution of his sculptural work. In his own words:

“I am currently focusing on altered, closed, sculptural forms using low temperature sagger fire techniques, and exploring various surface treatments to achieve a smooth tactile finish.”

You can read Richard’s full biography at https://grandprairiedesigns.com and you can come talk to him in person this weekend, from 10 am to 5 pm each day!

Our seventh featured artist is near and dear to all of our hearts. Susan Roth creates gorgeous, functional ceramic pieces. You have to move fast because her pitchers, bowls, and trays regularly sell out, before the show even begins!

Artist Statement

I have loved having my hands in dirt and clay since childhood living in California. While other little girls were playing with dolls indoors, I was digging in the orange orchard and making mud pies in the sunshine.

Now as an adult living on a farm in Winlock Washington, I still have my hands in dirt and clay. I make pottery in the studio and till the earth in my vegetable garden. I enjoy the appearance and feel of handmade pottery and find enormous aesthetic pleasure serving meals to family and friends on handmade pottery rather than on manufactured dishes. I am an avid cook and enjoy making pots that I can use to serve the beautiful fresh organic vegetables and fruits from my garden.

Materials and Processes

My work is usually created on an electric wheel and trimmed on a kick wheel. I need the speed of the electric wheel to center the clay but when I trim I like the kick wheel because it automatically slows down which keeps me under control and because it is so quiet. The difference between an electric wheel and the kick wheel, to me, is like the difference between motor boating and sailing.

My work has a lot of variety because I use red, white stoneware, and porcelain clays. Some of my pieces are earthy and primitive while others are china white with celadon glazes. Almost all of my work is utilitarian because I like to use hand made items in the kitchen and want others to notice and enjoy the subtle difference between using something manufactured and something hand made.

Educational Background
BA Humanities, University of Colorado, Boulder Colorado

Acknowledgements
I would like to thank my husband, Richard who has continued to support me along my journey in the clay studio and because he fires the gas kiln. Without him, all I would have is mud.

Our sixth featured artist is someone who can’t stand referring to herself in the third person! So here we go with first person instead:

My name is Elise Roth and I’ve been creating art on our family farm for more than 40 years. My current group of paintings is called “Be Your Own Bird (You are allowed to…)”

I work in ink, watercolor, and acrylics, in an illustrative, layered style - you can see more at I also have been creating a daily color spectrum photo project at for the past three years, which I plan to transform into an exhibit soon!

It’s an honor to be hanging my own work alongside the work of so many master artists and craftspeople for the Summer Solstice show!

Alright, back to the third person now ☺️

Our fifth featured artist is Rob Nelson! Rob is based in Southwest Washington and creates mixed media sculptural paintings using vintage and found objects. You’ve got to come by on June 17th and 18th to check out these amazing pieces in person!