Greenbaum Studios

David Greenbaum is a nationally recognized artist and award winner in ceramics. His pottery is represented in museums and galleries, and private collections across the country. David's artistic foray in clay reflects the unique designs and classic forms of the style he developed in his youth. Today, his designs radiate tranquility and harmony as a result of David finding peace within himself and with his work. His passion for working in clay extends to his desire to please the customer by custom design and creation according to the customer's specifications.

"As potters, we have many different directions we can pursue," he says. "I believe our work in clay is reflective, as it should be, of our personal lives - our spiritual journey."

When David throws his pots, he is focused on the design and perfection of the form. He prefers the classic form concepts explored by potters for thousands of years. "These forms have withstood the test of time," he says. "There's a reason they have endured so long. A pure form is balanced and harmonious and that gives it a universal radiance that draws us to it. When I throw a pot, I concentrate on finding its harmony. When it clicks, there is a certain rightness and an inarguable truth and unity."

As he strives for perfection of form, David spends a great deal of time perfecting the craftsmanship of his carving and finishing. He uses handmade tools for carving - usually looped guitar strings that leave precise impressions in the clay. When he begins to carve his designs, he relies only on experience and his remarkable ability to create perfectly spaced, repeating patterns.

David prefers to burnish rather than glaze his pots. Using a hard polished stone to compress the clay's surface particles, he burnishes the pots on a wheel. First he moistens the bone-dry pot with water and burnishes it until the surface is smooth. Next, he applies a thin coating of olive oil and repeats the process. The wheel's rotation helps to eliminate the burnish marks, contributing to the pot's luminous surface quality.