PIERCE, Neb. (KOLN) – At his family’s fifth generation acreage, Scott Peekenschneider enjoys making art that people can use. Then he sells it through his small business called PeekenPots Handmade Pottery.
“It’s like making your own tools,” Peekenschneider said. “It’s like making my own coffee mug to be able to drink or making my own plate to be able to eat from – I’ve always been interested in that utilitarian aspect of pottery.”
He was first introduced to making pottery in art class while growing up in Pierce. The hobby followed him when he moved to Lincoln for six years and then to Omaha for six years.
“It’s a skill that not everyone tries, so not everyone can do,” Peekenschneider said. “So there’s a sense of accomplishment there.”
However, he really dove into pottery in 2009. While he lived in Omaha, he took an eight-week Clay Works class for five years.
This led Peekenschneider to start PeekenPots Handmade Pottery.
“Of course that comes from my last name,” Peekenschneider said. “I was making pottery, and my friends made a joke bout Peeken pots, so it kind of stuck.”
Peekenschneider used his talents and his appearance to stand out when he worked in real estate.
“There’s a ton of realtors, so if you can differentiate yourself in any way, so I grew my beard instead of being cleanshaven,” chuckled Peekenschneider. “And then started giving pottery as closing gifts.”
His logo even incorporates a silhouette of Peekenschneider’s cap and beard.
Eventually, he moved back to Pierce to raise his children with the same experiences he had while growing up. He started out with a pottery studio in a family-owned building, but he moved aside for a coffee shop to open up.
During the day, he works as a drafter for Nucor Steel Nebraska, but he still works with clay on the side. He sells his pottery from a display inside of Rivet Roasters.
“And now I drink too much coffee,” laughed Peekenschneider. “But the partnership actually works out really great. There’s a lot of people that see my stuff that maybe they wouldn’t ever had seen it. Plus, maybe they wouldn’t have gotten a coffee.”
His creations are made to last and glazed with calm, earthy tones. He continues to practice the passion at his family’s acreage where he lives with his wife and children.
“And I hope to possibly, eventually, get my kids to do it as well, which may not be too hard,” Peekenschneider said, while working on projects with his daughter.
You can view Scott Peekenschneider’s projects on Instagram or Facebook. Or you can purchase his pottery inside Rivet Roasters at 106 W Main St. in Pierce.
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