Karl Sporck's career in art began with something simple - he took an art class at Northwestern Michigan College.

Spörck, who’s lived in Leelanau County for 32 years, was a premedical major before he decided that pottery was his true love. So he pursued the arts.

He continued his education at Michigan State University where he eventually ended earned a master of fine arts degree.

Leif Spörck

Spörck moved to Leelanau County because he thought this would be a fine place to open a studio and sell his work.

“I wanted to have a pottery shop and we found an affordable piece of property on a good road,” he said. It’s that house off M-204 between Suttons Bay and Lake Leelanau where he still lives and creates beautiful pottery. He’s found Leelanau a good place for his art business.

“Seasonal business is limiting,” said Spörck, “but it’s as good a place as any,” he said.

Spörck keeps himself busy with two jobs. He teachers part-time at NMC, where he first learned the art of clay.

“Business has been good over the years,” he said. His shop is a clear indicator of that success.
He has on display beautiful, creative pieces including useful creations like water and food bowls for dogs, mugs and various others.

Spörck said he has no particular favorite piece.

“I enjoy making them all. When I get sick of one thing, I move on to the next,” he said.
Through his love of the art, he’s also inspired other family members.

Karl Spörck's son Leif is also in the creative field. In fact, he owns a ceramic tile shop right next to his father on their property. Leif also started in another field — studying political science and history at Hope College — before turning toward the arts.

“I wanted to do environmental law, but that didn’t work out,” he said. “I thought to do tiles.”
Many of his creations take inspiration from the Leelanau County area the young man aims to preserve. Some of his tiles include area fixtures such as the dunes, local wildlife and the “little finger” itself.

Leif takes inspiration from his father, though the tiles were his idea.

“His glazing techniques and using wax resist” are two things that Leif said he learned from his father and continues to use now that he’s opened his own business.

“I wanted to live here and this was my attempt to see if I could make that happen,” said Leif, who has been in business for 5 years.

Though it can be difficult finding something to do in the winter, he said he’s usually working on inventory for the year during the off months.

The Spörcks find joy setting their own schedules.

“I’m responsible for everything,” said Karl. “There’s no clock to punch and I have my choice of which hours to work.”