I’m Ryan Allen McDonald—a ceramic artist, educator, and studio technician born and raised in Seattle, Washington. I grew up as an only child to a single mother, surrounded by her love and the grounding presence of extended family who helped lay the foundation for my values and worldview.

I first touched clay as a teenager at Green River College. Under the guidance of Paul Metivier, I discovered not just a craft, but a calling. Though I later spent several years working in the construction trades, the memory of the wheel—and the meditative flow state it induced—never left me.

In 2018, I returned to ceramics at Moshier Art Center in Burien, Washington. What began as an evening class to soothe my sorrows became a joyful new direction in life. I started volunteering and eventually began teaching. Since 2022, I’ve taught at Pottery Northwest and Rain City Clay, managed Rat City Studios, and launched my small business, Ambivert Ceramics. That same year, I was honored to receive a grant through Studio Potter as part of a year-long apprenticeship under Deb Schwartzkopf.

Today, I serve as the Ceramics Lab Technician at Green River College—coming full circle to the place where my journey first began.

For me, clay is a conversation between pressure and patience, between utility and presence. It gives form to the unseen parts of life—rhythm, resilience, stillness. I believe handmade objects have the power to transform routine into ritual, offering moments of pause and reflection in a world that often moves too fast.

My vision is simple: to create work that grounds people in their senses and encourages connection—with each other, with nature, and with the cherished, sacred parts of themselves.

Thank you for being here.