Cigar Lounges

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Full credit goes to my nephew, Dan Rians, for inspiring me to create my Cigar Lounge Series. Early in 2023, Dan asked if I could make him an ashtray. Beyond my complete lack of motivation to produce a container for ash and butts, I explained to Dan that functional pottery pieces simply weren't my artistic focus. He appeared to understand, and the subject was dropped.

Over the next few days, however, my mind kept returning to Dan's request—and my somewhat agitated response. I recalled something another professor from the Knox College Art Department had told me when I was frustrated by rules I considered too restrictive for an assignment: “Rob, your challenge is to uncover any and all means to be creative within the guidelines I have provided.”

Artistically refueled, I went to work in my home studio. Having moved past my initial lack of inspiration to craft a basic ashtray, I became absolutely inspired, and the “Cigar Lounge” was born!

The reaction from Dan, along with many others, was overwhelmingly positive. The Cigar Lounge was an instant hit. Accordingly, Double R Clay Works introduced a brand-new series to offer the world! Sincere thanks once again, nephew, for nudging me out of my comfort zone.

Within the Cigar Lounge Series, I offer two distinct styles:

1. The Charlie Chaplin Line: Whimsical pieces typically incorporating a sculpted figure of some kind. 

(Past creations include Singing & Cigar Smoking Elvis, Beloved Family Dog, Stevie-Ray Vaughan Guitar, and The Grateful Dead Dancing Bear, to name a few).

1. The James Bond Line: Intriguing, sleek, and elegant.