Jim Sockwell

Jim Sockwell is an American pottery and marquetry craftsman who spent most of his adult life in Spruce Pine, NC. Sockwell is a juried member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild in both disciplines.

Early life

Sockwell studied art at Middle Tennessee State University. Afterwards, he owned and operated Tanglewood Pottery in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. In 1972, he moved his family to Spruce Pine, NC and opened a pottery studio in Gillespie Gap, North Carolina.

Career

Ceramic Period: 1965–1978

Sockwell's Ceramic Period is characterized by Asian-inspired design and live demonstrations in Gillespie Gap, North Carolina. He specialized in functional stoneware pottery that was fired in a reduction atmosphere. His pieces were hand-signed "Sockwell" that may also include a date.

Marquetry Period: 2005 –

Sockwell's marquetry period started after retirement from surveying. He used exotic and native wood veneer to make realistic scenes. The woods were almost exclusively their natural color, but in select instances Sockwell would use wood that had been dyed. The wood grain was carefully incorporated into the design.

Artistic legacy

Sockwell art is routinely sold on and
.