Flynn Sochon began his pottery career is 1966. In 1972 I founded Flatlands Pottery, in Beecher, Illinois. The pottery has gone through several moves before ending in our current location in Twin Lake. Our current studio is approximately 2000 square feet.

All of my current work is created from porcelain and select hardwoods, and designed from a unique combination of handbuilding and wheel thrown techniques. I also design and build tables that incorporate my ceramic tiles. I take pride in knowing that all of our work is one of kind! All of the creative work is done by myself, although my wife (also a potter, part-time) helps periodically with the mixing of glazes and firing of kilns, and other miscellaneous shop chores. We have no other assistants. We use no commercially prepared clay or glazes and all the formulas that we use are my own creation. My glaze technique is multi-layered once fired glazes. Recently I have been incorporating wooden lids for my covered vessels.

I am very proud of our unique shapes and glazes. My work has appeared on HGTV’s Carol Duvall Show and DIY network, and is a segment about how we create our teapots and other handbuilt and wheelthrown shapes. Currently my work is represented in 140 shops and galleries throughout the U.S.  

Education

B.S. and M.F.A. in Ceramics at Illinois State University. Also studied at The Art Institute of Chicago and University ofWisconsin.

Teaching Experience

Illinois State University (TA) • Valparaiso University (2years) • Rosary College (3 years) • The Gary Artists League (2 years) • Flatlands Pottery (30 years) • Moraine Valley Community College (3 years) • Park Forest Art Center (5 years)

Workshops and Seminars

Kalamazoo Institute of Arts • Western Michigan University • Mundelien College • Rosary College •Kanakee Community College • Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin • Southern Illinois University • Union College • Tall Grass Arts Association •Louisiana Arts Council • and numerous demonstrations at area High Schools.

Works in Collection

Li-Chi Mao Collection, Beijing, China • University of Wisconsin at LaCrosse • Edgewood College, Madison, Wisconsin • Evansville Museum of Art • Illinois State University • Kankakee Community College and Public Library • Park Forest Art Center • Valparaiso University • Vitterbo College • Amoco Oil Corporation • Desa Corporation • Squire Incorporated • Alberto Culver Corporation • Frankel & Company • plus numerous works in private collections in China, Japan, Germany, Israel, France, Mexico, Canada and throughout the United States.

Major Exhibitions

Lake Shore Invitational, John Blank Center for the Arts, MIchigan City, IN (1993,94, 95,96) • 1993 & 95 Three Rivers Juried Exhibition, Pittsburgh, PA • Illinois Designer Craftsmen, (1968-86) • Crafts Independant Gallery, Lake Geneva, WI(1975-86) • One-man Show, Zwick Gallery, Evanston, IL (1986) • 3rd, 4th and 5th Biennial Lake Superior International Crafts Exhibit, Tweed Museum of Art, Duluth, MN • One-man Show at Edward Sherbyn Gallery, Chicago, IL (1973 & 79) Mid States Craftsmen Show, Evansville Museum of Art (1972,73 & 74) • Great Lakes Ceramics Show, Plattesville, WI (1974) • Lake Area Clay Invitational, Madison, WI (1974) • Grand Rapids Art Museum Regional Exhibition 2007, 08, 09,10 & 11 • Muskegon museum of Art Regional Exhibition 2007, 08, 09 &11.

Additionally I have done a video productions on pottery in conjunction with The Tall Grass Arts Association and Chicago Public Television, entitled,"The Artists Way", and The Carol Duvall Show on HGTV.

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