The Potter's Hands
CartHand-carved botanical stoneware, made one piece at a time.
April Dupuis carves each design by hand using sgraffito — a slow technique that turns a functional mug, bowl, or vase into a fully functional work of art.
Functional pieces for everyday use
Every piece is wheel-thrown or hand-built, then hand-decorated and kiln-fired in the studio. No two are identical.
Sgraffito is a centuries-old decorating technique where the artist carves through a layer of colored slip to reveal the contrasting clay underneath.
April learned the technique during a two-year apprenticeship and has spent more than two decades refining it. Each botanical motif is drawn freehand and incised line by line before the piece is glazed and fired — which is why a single mug can take days to finish.
Read: What is sgraffito pottery? →Hand-carved florals that never fade. Each piece in the Eternal Bloom collection captures a flower at its peak — drawn freehand and incised into the clay through sgraffito — so the garden stays with you long after the season ends.
Eternal Bloom (tag: eternal-bloom) · 2 cols × 4
A few pieces from the studio
Recent or Featured · 4 cols × 4
Learn pottery at your own pace
April taught adult pottery classes for 17 years and mentored studio teachers. Her online course community takes you from your first centered ball of clay through decorating your own finished pieces.
Step-by-step lessons
Wheel throwing, hand-building, trimming, glazing, and decorating — each broken into clear, follow-along videos.
A supportive community
Ask questions, post your progress, and learn alongside other beginners in a welcoming, faith-friendly space.
Beginner to intermediate
Start with zero experience and build real skills, or sharpen techniques you already have. Go at the pace that fits your life.
Lifetime access
Lessons stay open, so you can revisit a technique any time a piece doesn't go the way you hoped.
Join the community
Create a free account and get instant access to the lesson library.
Follow the lessons
Work through each technique with April, from centering clay to carving your first design.
Share your work
Post your finished pieces and get encouragement and feedback from April and the community.
April Dupuis has shaped functional, heavily decorated stoneware for over twenty years — from a James Beard Foundation commission to the studio she keeps today in Oxford, Mississippi.
Read April's full story →Questions, answered
Is the pottery food, microwave, and dishwasher safe?
Yes. Every piece is high-fired stoneware finished with a food-safe glaze, so it's safe for daily use, the microwave, and the dishwasher. Pieces with gold or metallic accents should be hand-washed.
Are pieces one of a kind?
Yes. Because every design is carved and decorated by hand, no two pieces are identical. The piece you see in a photo is the exact one you'll receive.
Do you take custom commissions?
April regularly creates custom and commissioned work, including large dinner sets — most notably a 450-piece commission for a James Beard Foundation dinner. Reach out through the contact page to discuss a project.
Do I need experience to take a class?
No experience needed. The course community starts with the absolute basics and is designed for first-time potters, then builds toward intermediate techniques as you grow.
Do you ship, and how long does it take?
Yes, we ship nationwide. In-stock pieces ship within a few business days; made-to-order and commissioned work takes longer and we'll give you a timeline before you commit.