Made On Delmarva: Amused Studios

If you've enjoyed a hot cup of coffee or tea at a restaurant on the shore, it's likely that you've had your hands on a local masterpiece.

Robert Johnson and his wife Sarah Halcott are the owners of Amused Studios and are the brains behind multiple pieces of art on Delmarva.Their most popular items are their mugs.

Johnson and Halcott both enjoyed the arts, but didn't think they would go full time until Halcott was offered a job at Salisbury University.

"She was finishing up her degree in Salisbury University, and she got a job as a studio technician.  She started bringing home clay, and I never worked with it before," says Johnson.

However, it it did not take Robert long to figure out how to work up a masterpiece using this new material.

"I taught myself how to do pretty  much everything that I do. We started out making things for ourselves, you know dish wear, candle holders. My very first whole sale client was Evolution Brewery, and I decided to make a mug with with their logo and take it in and show it to them. I said 'you need thi's. Now we work with Burley Oak Brewery , and Assateague Island Surf Shop," says Johnson.

Johnson showed 47 ABC how he makes his famous mugs, starting by prepping and kneading the clay.

Once the clay has softened up it is ready to hit the wheel. Robert  controls the wheel using a foot pedal and starts creating the shape of a mug. Once the mug is the shape he wants he cuts it off the wheel and lets it dry overnight. When the mug has had a few hours to dry, he makes the handle.

The mug then dries for a few days before it's ready to be fired inside the kiln. After it is out of the kiln, all the rough spots on the surface of the mug are smoothed out.  When the mugs are nice and even they can be glazed.

Once Robert has finished glazing them they go into the kiln one more time. The mugs sit in the kiln for about 2 days and then they are complete.

Another piece of art  ready to be put to good use!