Robert Erardi is The Potbellied Potter. He resides in the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina with his family. He has been in construction since he was 15 years old and owns a construction company where he has worked with his wife, daughter and three sons since 1983. He was born and raised in Connecticut in a big Italian family where he spent time learning to use his hands to create pieces of art- from the "copper pheasant" to the little "potbellied stove" that he made as gifts for his father, Frank. A young artist was born! He has always had a love of the arts in various forms, perfecting many crafts including blacksmithing, woodturning, and woodworking. He has also dabbled in stained glass, making rock candles, jewelry making and oil painting. He is also in the process of writing a book about the grieving process, based on his experiences since the death of his firstborn son, Matthew and the death of his father.
Pottery seemed to be the next step in his natural progression as an artist. He has become an "obsessed soul" immersed in the mud. He has studied under many of the High Country's premier potters involved in the Crafts Enrichment Program directed by Eric Reichard at Appalacian State University in Boone, North Carolina, including Maggie Black, Jimmy Savely, and Lucy Hamilton. Each has enhanced his knowledge of the craft and he will forever be grateful to each of them. He humbly acknowledges that he will continue to evolve as a potter and looks forward to what comes next in his "journey in controlled chaos". Thank you for your interest in our website and we hope that it inspires you to find the inner artist in yourself and start your own journey. We ask for your patience as this website is an art in progress as well. We are excited to be opening our own online store soon where you can custom order and purchase "already made" pieces to add to your own collection or as a treasured gift for a loved one. Please feel free to offer comments or ask questions on our guestbook page.