our team

Gram first fell in love with pottery in high school and has continued working with clay on and off for nearly 27 years. Originally from Minnesota, he primarily creates functional, wheel-thrown pottery, often incorporating carving and texture into his pieces.

Much of Gram’s work is wood-fired, a process that leaves its own mark on every piece through flame, ash, and the atmosphere of the kiln. Paired with his carved surfaces, the unpredictability of the firing makes no two pieces quite alike.

As an instructor at Stone Bear Studios, Gram teaches wheel throwing at all levels as well as workshops focused on wood and soda firing. He enjoys sharing the processes and techniques he has spent years exploring while continuing to learn and experiment alongside the studio community.  

If Gram is in the studio, there’s a good chance Astrid isn’t far behind. His four-legged sidekick is a regular around the studio and an unofficial supervisor.  

Tom Jackson has been making pottery for 12 years and has been teaching wheel classes at Stone Bear Studios for 4. 

Originally from Mississippi, Tom spent his early college years working in the MSU forest entomology department studying termites and soil microbiology. During this time, he discovered ceramic art and began creating pieces with a focus on functionality and design. He continued to spend many of his evenings in the art department’s pottery studio, and he graduated with a minor in ceramic arts.

Tom moved to Denver and now enjoys carving on simple but charming forms before woodfiring them. He puts an emphasis on nature in his artwork and draws inspiration from anthills, constellations, termite damage, and crop circles. 

Kathryn, aka the resident studio cat (good luck getting her picture), began her pottery addiction 26 years ago at the Goodson Rec Center in Centennial, CO. She has a BFA in Sculpture from Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design. When asked what her hobbies are outside of pottery, she had one word for us: cats. 

Will Bals is a Denver-based ceramicist working primarily in wheel-thrown functional and sculptural forms. He discovered ceramics in the summer of 2025 after taking a sculptural art class and using clay as the medium. He later joined a community art studio and in less than a year built a home studio in his garage. Since April 2026, Will has expanded his experience by joining Stone Bear Studios as a technician and instructor.

Currently, Will’s focus is on quality made forms, interactions between varying clay bodies, geometric shapes, and exploring different surface-level underglaze techniques to highlight his creativity and inspiration.