Lane Tutor shows off recent works at this weekend's Christmas Sale

I don't usually devote my blog space to promotions, but I'm going to do it twice this week. Today artist Lane Tutor is taking my space.  He is busy hanging paintings and carefully placing pottery in his barn studio in preparation for his Christmas Sale, set for Saturday, Dec. 3 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 4 from noon to 6 p.m.

Tutor at work in his studio.

I first met Lane when I was a student news intern for the Northwest Mississippi Community College campus radio station. That was 1973. He had been a faculty member at Northwest for one year. My first news interview was with Tutor and his mentor Jac Young to promote their two-man art exhibition.  Jac talked and answered questions in his charming way. Every time I looked at Tutor for a quote, he just looked down and squirmed.  That quiet side is not so evident today.

Tutor retired from his teaching position in 2007.  He now has time for his own artistic endeavors from his home studio in Senatobia. He now works from his barn studio behind his home in Senatobia. In addition to throwing and/or handbuilding functional pottery, Tutor also sculpts his Christmas Kings and more abstract pieces to be used outdoors as well as in the home. All pottery is stoneware or porcelain and fired to cone 10 in a gas kiln. All wares are dishwasher, microwave and oven safe because of the high 
firing temperature. All glazes are hand-mixed and cover the color spectrum.

Recently Tutor's art was featured at Buckley's restaurant in Memphis. "Lane and owner Ken Vick (Vick's photos of Tutor are in this blog) got to talking about art, and now Ken is the proud owner of one of Lane's face jugs," says wife Susan Tutor. Face jugs are a very old expression of pottery and Lane has been influenced by Jerry Brown of Hamilton, Ala., with his face jugs.

Susan says after 50 years as a practicing artist, Lane is still passionate about his art. Besides pottery he is often found in his barn studio painting the vividly-colored sunsets often found in Mississippi, especially in the Delta. That region is special to Tutor since he grew up around Crowder and has been heavily influenced by the beauty of the Delta skies and landscapes.

Tutor received both bachelor's and master's degrees from The University of Mississippi, and he is a devoted Ole Miss sports fan.

He and Susan reside in Senatobia.  Tutor has two adult sons, Chad of Memphis; and Jared of Oxford.

Tutor's Christmas Kings

The sale will include functional ware, paintings, and his Christmas Kings. You can contact Tutor at (662) 562-9619.  Find him on Facebook and check out the Tutor Pottery page.