Winston’s interest in 19th century stoneware production began over twenty five years ago while traveling through the Midwest, attending farm auctions and frequenting antique shops searching for old utilitarian stoneware vessels used “back then” for food storage and preservation. It was not until his college years attending formal and ceramics classes at Johnson County Community College that a future in the ceramics trade would eventually lead to starting up a small shop making personalized and custom made to order stoneware pieces.
Manufacturing methods used in the trade over one hundred years ago are incorporated into each piece made here at the W.A. Painter Pottery Works. "It is important to us to preserve the history of pottery making here. From hand turning and molding to decorating, glazing and firing, each piece although labor intensive, is truly a labor of love” Winston explains.
Everything from custom logo designed stoneware jugs, crocks, butter tubs and bowls to textured folk art inspired birdhouses, toad houses and figural frog doorstops are made here. “Blue sponge-ware has always been a popular color and we use it on a number of pieces.”
In addition to their well known personalized and custom line of stoneware products, the W.A. Painter Pottery Works is expanding on their influences of early folk pottery, offering the Garden Line to include hand textured stoneware birdhouses, toad houses and soon to arrive, hanging flower baskets. With their hand applied texture and cut limb adornments, these pieces fit right into the outdoors and into an ever increasing demand for locally hand made items for the garden.
"We are excited about the future and our online presence. We have many unique items that can be purchased directly on our site or personalized through our custom ordering process." Whether you own a business and are looking for a promotional piece, celebrating a town bicentennial or county fair in your town, or wanting a family piece personalized for a wedding or family reunion, give the W.A. Painter Pottery Works a call and they will be happy to discuss your ideas.
Today we are working in the shop putting together stoneware wren houses. They have full texture on the top and base and are decorated with cut limbs around the outside of the base. They will be glazed matte brown.
W.A. Painter Pottery Works was commissioned by Boulevard Brewing Company to make stoneware beer steins and jug banks. We just delivered them to the Beer Hall! Stop at the Boulevard Brewing Company's gift shop inside the Beer Hall and pick out something cool like a Boulevard Brewing Company hat, or one of their new pull overs or long sleeve shirts. A Boulevard Brewing Company stoneware stein or a Boulevard Brewing Company "Beer Money" Christmas ornament or jug bank will be a perfect gift idea! There is something for everyone in the gift shop! Whether you live in Kansas City or are traveling through, you have to stop in at Boulevard Brewing Company to take a tour and see how they brew their beer. The historic four story Boulevard Brewing Company Beer Hall next to the brewery is a great place to meet up with friends and taste some excellent beers!
Spring time is one of our favorite times here at the pottery. Grass is turning green and birds are singing, waiting for their new houses to be hung from tree branches around the yard and on the front porch of our shop. The other day, I was walking out the shop door and a wren flew right by my face on her way back to her home which was hanging from the front porch beam of our shop. It wasn’t the first time this had happened. When the wren family moved in we were ecstatic! We did not expect them to move into this house placed so close to the shop but they love it! We took a series of photos that day of the wren family playing around in their new home.
