Monster Making in Clay

Last updated on June 13, 2025.

James DeRosso

James DeRosso got his college degree in Graphic Design, but had spent a great deal of his art electives in the ceramic studio. After college, he started working in advertising, but ceramics is what he would be doing at night on his own time. A ceramics commission job forced him to step away from his advertising job and start up a professional clay studio.

The specific niche of creating monsters all began when he would make small guardian creatures that he placed on top of the kiln to ward off bad results during firings. Friends wanted those creatures more than the ceramic wares that he was loading in the kiln. He enjoys the whole monster making niche, and the kind of people that are attracted to it. He has been making and teaching ceramics for almost 30 years. Please sign up on the POP Santa Fe calendar if you plan to attend.