John Leitch carved his first shape from a bar of soap in art class when he was a young boy. He showed early signs of having an inventive mind by making simple children's toys out of whatever resources he could find. Later, as a young parent living in the Chicago suburbs, John enrolled in his first pottery class, which introduced him to the world of art and fundamentally changed the path of his life. The ceramics industry was thriving during the period, thanks to creative artisans and receptive consumers.