As a kid, Tim Nolin would watch with interest as his dad would spin off wheel-thrown pots. Then, with his dad's permission (and sometimes without it), he would try his own hand at the craft. But his interest had indeed taken firm root. During his first three years as a student at Indiana State University's Laboratory High School, Tim pursued the his pottery interests more seriously under instructor John Laska. While earning a degree in computer science math, Tim completed three pottery-related university courses taught by Indiana State's Dick Hay.

In 1978, while an I.S.U. student, Tim was hired as the village potter at Parke County, Indiana's Billie Creek Village. The catenary arch kiln built there under his father's oversight had been damaged, so Tim and Milton dismantled it and designed and built a new one that was more than two times larger and more than eight times more efficient. Tim was pleasantly surprised and highly pleased to learn upon firing it for the first time that it had even temperatures throughout. Tim continued as the village potter there for five years, perfecting his craft while completing his college degree.

Tim and his wife built a new home in 1987 in Brown County, Indiana, where many other artists live and produce their specialties. That same year, Tim built his new pottery studio, and he and his dad designed and built Tim's new gas-fired updraft kiln, which he still uses.

Tim specializes in functional wheel-thrown stoneware pottery that is meant to be used. Though his own job as an engineering and construction manager is highly demanding, he still takes time to produce pots for sale, concentrating on pots that not only look attractive but also "feel right." His pottery uses lead-free glazes that can be used safely in both microwave and conventional ovens.

Occasionally, too, he and his dad produce raku pots which they fire in hastily-made temporary raku kilns. Unlike the stoneware pottery, the raku pots are more decorative in nature and are not intended for use with food.

Visits to his studio may be arranged, but by appointment only.