Mark L. Nowak
Resident Artist | Master Potter
Professional studio artist and master potter Mark L. Nowak has been working with clay for decades and has been connected with Allen Stoneware since his college years. Mark earned his BA from Mercyhurst University and now serves as an Assistant Pottery Instructor and Resident Potter at Allen Stoneware.
Known for his technical skill and willingness to experiment with new forms and glazing techniques, Mark continues to explore and refine his craft while sharing his knowledge with students in the studio.
"I enjoy continuing my pursuit of clay art at Allen Stoneware, teaching and always experimenting with form and glazing techniques."
Madison Rose
Erie-based studio potter Madison Rose creates elegantly handmade ceramics inspired by gardens, greenery, and organic forms. Her work includes wheel-thrown pottery as well as larger sculptural vases designed to bring beauty and creativity into everyday life.
Madison received her Bachelor’s Degree in Studio Arts with a concentration in Ceramics from PennWest Edinboro in 2021. After discovering pottery at a youth ceramics camp, she later changed her college major from biology to ceramics and has since built a growing professional practice. Her work has appeared in multiple juried exhibitions, earned an Outstanding Entrepreneur Award, and was featured in several UK editions of House & Garden magazine in 2024.
In addition to running her own brand, Madison Rose Ceramics, Madison works as a studio potter at Allen Stoneware where she helps with production, studio management, and teaching.
Website: https://madisonroseceramics.com
Instagram: @madisonrosepots_
Shelly Walker Graham
Resident Artist
Artist and photographer Shelly Walker Graham combines her love of nature, painting, and pottery to create richly detailed, hand-carved and hand-painted ceramic work. Growing up in Erie County and spending time exploring Presque Isle helped shape her artistic voice, with many of her pieces reflecting the colors, plants, and wildlife of the natural world.
Shelly earned a BFA in Applied Media Arts with a concentration in Photography from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, where she also developed a passion for clay. Years later, she further refined her pottery techniques while studying with Allen Stoneware owner Vickie Allen.
Her work blends the precision of a photographer’s eye with expressive painting and ceramic form.
Shelly’s work is available at Allen Stoneware, through her Etsy shop, and at locations including the Tom Ridge Environmental Center.
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/shellywalkergraham
Instagram: @shellywalkergraham
Joe Moosman
Master Potter
Master potter Joe Moosman is known for his distinctive ceramic work influenced by traditional Asian pottery techniques, particularly soda and salt glazing, which produce rich, organic surface finishes.
In addition to creating his own work, Joe is highly respected for his technical expertise in kiln systems and studio setup. He provides kiln consultation, maintenance, and studio support, with experience working with electric, gas, and wood-fired kilns.
Joe continues to mentor and collaborate with other ceramic artists, sharing his deep knowledge of both traditional pottery methods and modern studio practices.
Contact: 814-572-5158
Nancy Pallan
For more than thirty years, Nancy Pallan has worked as a professional watercolor artist known for her beautifully detailed paintings of birds and botanical subjects. Her artwork has been widely licensed and reproduced internationally, appearing on calendars, linens, books, clothing, and home décor products.
Nancy’s artistic journey began early, encouraged by her father, a professional photographer. She later studied under well-known Erie artist Joseph Plavcan, who helped refine her skills.
Inspired by nature and travel throughout the United States, Nancy’s work reflects a lifelong fascination with wildlife and plant life. At Allen Stoneware, she brings that same artistic sensibility into ceramic pieces that combine painting, pottery, and natural materials.
Bill Donahue
Resident Artist
Resident artist Bill Donahue has been studying and creating pottery at Allen Stoneware for more than 18 years. Known for his playful creativity, Bill produces a variety of unique ceramic pieces, including his well-known “Crazy Bill” mugs and imaginative sculptural works.
Bill often combines handbuilt and wheel-thrown techniques to create animated, one-of-a-kind pieces full of personality and humor.
As Bill likes to say:
"Like, Coolsville Daddio!"