In this interview, Bill Robbins talks about the tremendous influence of Clary Illian on his work. Robbins lives in easterm Iowa and annually travels an arts festival circuit selling his work. He built a studio and kiln on his rural property after converting some of the land to a wildlife prairie. Robbins has an Andy Warhol quote on his refrigerator that sums up his philosophy to art: "I think having land and not ruining it is the most beautiful art that anybody could ever want to own."
Beth Lambert apprenticed with Clary Illian after meeting her at a workshop in Arkansas. In the video, Lambert declares of her mentor, "She made me a potter." See her work at Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/people/betlamb Beth Lambert Pottery
Through five decades Clary Illian has sustained herself on her pottery studio production. While walking her dog in 2008 she fell on an icy sidewalk and was sidelined for two months. As she recovered, she began scaling back her studio practice. This is the story of her semi-retirement. - http://www.atomburke.com