Artist Spotlight: Danny Meisinger — Form, Flow, & Function - the Evolution of a Potter
- Throw Clay LA
- Aug 6
- 3 min read
During three days in August, Danny Meisinger of Spinning Earth Pottery will be teaching a workshop at Throw Clay LA — August 21–23, 2025, from 9AM to 4PM. This is a rare opportunity to work alongside a nationally recognized potter known for his large-scale forms and thoughtful approach to clay.
Curious to learn more about Danny’s journey, philosophy, and why we’re so excited to host him? We thought you might be — read on to get to know the artist behind the wheel.
When you first see a piece by Danny Meisinger, it’s not just the scale or symmetry that draws you in. It’s the clarity of intention. The kind of presence that only comes from decades of deep engagement with material, form, and spirit.
Danny Meisinger is a nationally recognized studio potter and the creative force behind Spinning Earth Pottery. With more than 30 years at the wheel, Danny’s work has evolved from rows of functional mugs to towering sectional vessels, always rooted in a philosophy that clay is both teacher and mirror.
The Accidental Beginning
Danny’s clay story began in high school in Gardner, Kansas, where a scheduling conflict landed him in a ceramics class. From the very first moment, the clay responded—and so did Danny. He threw himself into the process with confidence and a willingness to fail, a mindset that would become a defining trait in his practice.
After some time at Johnson County Community College, Danny enrolled at the University of Kansas to study ceramics seriously. But life called—Danny married his wife Diana and, expecting their first child, made the brave decision to leave school and build his own studio. By 1989, he was a full-time potter.
Learning by Doing (and Doing and Doing)
The early years weren’t easy. Danny admits he knew how to throw a three-foot-tall pot but couldn’t pull a decent handle on a mug. So he worked—hard. He built a two-chamber wood kiln, started selling at art fairs, and learned not only the mechanics of clay, but the nuances of form, consistency, and what it means to create work that resonates.
Through those years, Danny says his greatest teachers were the clay itself and the process. Clay, with its unrelenting honesty. Process, with its whispered wisdom to slow down and be present. That philosophy continues to shape his work and teaching.
The Shift of Danny Meisinger to Form, Flow & Function
As Danny’s skills matured, so did his artistic ambition. He became known for large-scale sectional pieces, pushing the physical limits of the material while staying grounded in clean, refined forms. But even as the scale increased, so did the intentionality—each curve, joint, and glaze decision was made with care and clarity.
He also refined his glaze palette and began to explore both atmospheric firing and cone 6 oxidation, constantly evolving and challenging his own assumptions about what clay should do.
More Than a Potter
Danny is the first to say that pottery is not the totality of who he is. He’s a husband, a father, and a deeply human individual who happens to make art. His artist statement reveals a guiding belief that art is important in the world—but even more so, artists are important. “We think differently,” he says, “and the world needs more of that.”
That belief fuels his teaching. Danny’s workshops aren’t just about technique (though there’s plenty of that). They’re about helping potters of all levels see clay differently—slower, deeper, more intentionally. He welcomes beginners and veteran potters alike into his studio, teaching side by side in the spirit of shared learning.
Why We’re So Excited to Host Him
At Throw Clay LA, we believe that the best workshops give students more than a few new tricks. They offer perspective, growth, and a deeper connection to the material. Danny Meisinger - Form, Flow & Function brings all of that and more.
His upcoming 3-day workshop, Form, Flow & Function, is a chance to learn directly from a master—someone who has lived the challenges and joys of a potter’s life and emerged with wisdom that can’t be taught in a textbook.
Whether you're looking to refine your forms, explore large-scale work, or just reconnect with your creative spirit, Danny’s workshop promises to be both technically rich and personally meaningful.
Limited spots available — reserve yours now.
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