Karl received his BFA from St. Cloud State College, and his MFA from the University of Minnesota, where he was a student of Warren MacKenzie. He taught for more than 30 years at the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater, before “retiring” to be a studio potter. He has given workshops at institutions such as Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts and the Appalachian Center for Craft, been in numerous exhibitions and publications and is included in major collections across the country. Karl maintains a home and studio in Whitewater, Wisconsin.
My current work takes two overlapping directions. I produce utilitarian pots intended for daily use and sculptural, architecturally-derived covered vessels. Most pieces are wheel thrown and some are altered to create squared, oval or triangular forms.
I restrict my color palette by keeping to a minimum using two clays (stoneware and porcelain), four slips and three glazes. Surface embellishment, when employed, incorporates basket weave imagery, checkerboard patterns or parallel lines. Juxtaposed subtle surface variation and texture is achieved by firing with wood and the introduction of a small amount of salt.