At their Petit Jean Mountain studio, Dale and Liane Maddox show what it takes to build a life—and a business—around thoughtful making.

Recently, I visited Dale and Liane Maddox at Old Dog Pottery, at their studio on Petit Jean Mountain. Dale and Liane are anything but new to their craft. They met years ago while studying at Southern Illinois University, eventually settling in Arkansas in 1980, where they established The Hardy Pottery. For decades they crafted pottery and sold it alongside handmade goods from other artisans—homewares, jewelry, baskets, and more—in their historic 1897 building. They operated the shop while also raising their four children.

After all those years, they moved to Petit Jean Mountain—not to retire, but to shift the rhythm of their lives. Today they sell exclusively through Etsy, creating 1,500–2,000 pieces of pottery each year. They work in batches and release new pieces as they come out of the kiln. Their longevity as artists comes from listening to what people want, adapting when needed, honing their technical skill, and building a reputation for work that speaks for itself. They believe a strong work ethic and integrity can sustain a small creative business for decades.

Over time, they’ve learned one another’s strengths. Both make pottery; Liane handles sales and social media, while Dale is the technician and accountant. It’s an enormous amount of work. We often romanticize the life of craftspeople without fully seeing the depth of labor required to sustain it.

They continue because they love the process—making objects that feel natural, meaningful, and grounded. They believe in the “fewer, better things” philosophy, creating pieces meant to be used daily and kept for a lifetime.

Their work is beautiful, functional, and exceptionally well-made. You can explore their pottery on Etsy and follow their Instagram to see new releases as they emerge from the kiln. You can buy their work in-person at Petit Jean State Park, Petit Jean Coffee House, Bell Urban Farm, and Creative Coop.

I’m grateful to Dale and Liane for welcoming me into their studio. Madison and I each left with a handmade cup, giving me my very first piece from Old Dog Pottery. A special thank-you to my intern, Madison Achan, who spent the fall semester supporting my real estate business and joined me on this visit. Thank you, Madison!

Old Dog Pottery
Petit Jean Mountain, Morrilton, AR