MASON, Ohio – Dan Dawson is 70 years old. He's been cutting hair for 54 years, the last several decades at a shop in Reading. Six years ago a friend recommended he try out a paint-your-own pottery store in Mason as something to do.
- • Created hundreds of pottery pieces to sell
- • Hopes to make enough money to supplement his retirement
- • $125 most he's got for a piece of artwork
Dawson hopes his artwork, which is sold at various art galleries and gift shops across the Midwest might be a means to retirement while still being able to do something he loves.
“To subsidize my social security check and maybe quit cutting hair,” Dawson told Spectrum News 1 when asked about the goal of his pottery pieces.
Dawson visits Mad Potter, 6680 Tri Way Dr, Mason, almost every day. And he's been visiting for the last six years.
Lora Hutchinson is the owner of Mad Potter and welcomes her VIP customer.
“I have a lot of customers who come and they'll say who's that man back there,” said Hutchinson. “They go back and look at his work, admire it, love it. He does well.”
While is artwork isn't subsidizing his income yet, he has sold a lot of pieces. One piece sold for $125. It was commissioned by a person who wanted cats on a piece of pottery.
“Just such satisfaction looking at these things and thinking I created the artwork on these pieces and they'll never be another one like it. These are all one of a kind,” Dawson said.
Dawson doesn't do replicas or change the colors of a previous piece. He prefers to connect with individuals who desire a piece to find a common area. Most of the ideas, he admits, come from his head the moment he picks up a brush. He free hand draws all his work and paints them in the store. Dawson said he prefers come to Mad Potter, despite the cost, because he gets to sit and chat with friends. Plus, everything he needs is all in one place.
Dawson said he knows of his pieces be gifted in places like Seattle, Colorado in Florida. Technically speaking he's also going international.
“So there's my name on the back of a piece in Canada.”
Dawson enjoys time outside of cutting hair and being an artist with his son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren. His wife Linda of 33 years died 18 years ago.
“If she knew about what I actually evolved into she'd be quite surprised.” Dawson recalled about his wife.
If you're interested in a pottery piece from Dawson the best way to get a hold of him is to stop by the Mad Potter in Mason – you'll surely run into him.