Our Staff

Elizabeth Johnson, Director
Elizabeth received her AA from Columbia Community College, CA in 1981.  After raising two sons, she returned to school and earned her BA in Studio Art from Humboldt State University in 2007. Her strong liberal arts education focused on philosophy, the sciences and art. Her love of art, parenting and professional qualities have shaped the growth of the Fire Arts Center since 2003.

David Jordan, Senior Studio Technician
David earned a BA in Fine Arts from Humboldt State University and an MFA in Studio Art from UC Santa Barbara. From 1990-2013 he worked as an art educator in a variety of positions. See more of David's work at www.jordanclayart.com.

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Meredith Smith, Studio Technician
Meredith earned her BA in Studio Arts with an emphasis in Ceramics from Humboldt State University in May, 2016.  She is now working as an emerging artist and studio technician at Fire Arts Center.  See more of her work at ​https://www.instagram.com/meredith.smith.art/

Natalie Williams, Studio Technician
Natalie is a maker, teacher and sharer of art.  She facilitates art education for adults at Trajectory in Eureka, and runs the Open Lab program at the Sanctuary in Arcata.  She received a B A with an emphasis in ceramics from Humboldt State University in 2015. She is inspired by books, children's stories, weather, seasons, animals, people, the mountains, clouds, and the sea.

Joel Diepenbrock, Studio Technician
Joel is a dedicated ceramic artist and woodfire potter now working as a studio technician at the Fire Arts Center.  He received a BA degree in Studio Art and Ceramics from Humboldt State University and is currently a member on multiple local wood kiln firing crews.  Joel specializes in making teaware and enjoys helping others expand their knowlege of clay and fire.

Bob Raymond, Instructor
Bob received a Master of Arts degree in Ceramics from San Diego State University in 1987.  He taught ceramics at Palomar College - San Marcos for ten years and during that time was a San Diego Potters' Guild member.   For three years he was a R.O.P. production pottery lab tech and for many years in the San Diego area he participated in numerous Galleries, Shows and Sales.
Since 2001 he has been a member of The Fire Arts Center and has held a private studio since 2003.  Bob teaches ceramic classes to adults and children in addition to specialty classes. He also offers services for custom orders from sinks to place settings.
For over 17 years he has thrown piece work for Liscom Hill Pottery and North Bay Clay Works.  In his 45 year career he estimates having thrown over 125,000 pieces not including hand built or slip cast pieces.
Bob says of his work, " I remain creative, inventive, and open to intuitive possibilities, after all, it is a human experience with a balance between what is personal and what is shared."

Peggy Loudon, Instructor

Marilyn Allen, Instructor

Elaine Y Shore, Instructor
Elaine joined FAC as a member in 2009.  She works in porcelain and her work is shown at Arcata Artisans Cooperative and Trinidad Art Gallery, two local artist cooperatives, and at other venues.
She teaches Surface Decoration classes at Fire Arts. Her classes are hands-on, with students being introduced to a different technique each week. Topics include sgraffito, underglaze painting, stamping, resists, faceting, chattering, slip trailing and other ways to embellish ceramic pieces. 

Susan Beecher, Instructor
Susan Beecher is a nationally recognized studio potter whose work has appeared in more than 75 national juried exhibitions over the past 25 years. She has taught workshops and weekly classes at outstanding clay centers throughout the Northeast U. S., Florida and California. Her work has appeared in eight books and many articles. She is currently the Director of Sugar Maples Center for the Arts located in  New York State where she also maintains a studio and her two-chamber Norborigama Kiln.

​In  2005, a book exploring her work was released by Catskill Press: Susan Beecher: Wood Fired Pottery. She also loves to garden, read and listen to folk music.

Amanda Steinbach, Instructor




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Margo Whitcomb, Instructor
I Love teaching hand building clay techniques to wonderful Fire Arts Center students, as well as creating useful and whimsical cups, bowls and cookie jars. There are times I'd rather read a book or pet my kitties, but really making fun and useful objects is very important to me.  I also love the community of kindred spirits and the atmosphere of creativity. Elizabeth, the director of FAC is a main attraction and the techs are knowledgeable, and helpful. I have a degree in Fine Arts from San Francisco State University and lots of experience teaching art to children.