Life is a whirl for Orcas 'glaze queen'

18th in an occasional series

ORCAS ISLAND, San Juan County — When you're ordering 4 tons of clay twice a year, you'd better know what to do with it.

Syd Exton does.

The third-generation potter and owner of Orcas Island Pottery first sat at the wheel when she was 5, taught by her mother, Trudy Erwin.

Over time, she mastered the athletic and aesthetic challenge to take a ball of clay, throw it down, "anchor your elbows," center it on the wheel, "keep it from spinning out-of-control" and shape it.

"Centering is the basic; it's the core, the first step."

But, she says, it takes a while before doing pottery becomes restful and meditative.

With the pieces, "you want a nice balance. You know it's right when you pick it up — if it's too heavy or too light. You know."

Exton, known as "the glaze queen," has two production potters but does all the glazing herself.

This is not an endeavor for those worried about dust, dirt and stains.

She's not.

"You're dirty all the time."

Alan Berner: aberner@seattletimes.com or 206-464-8133