Finding My Way in Clay
My clay journey began in 2013, after my sister convinced me to take the pottery class at our high school, repeatedly telling me that I would love it. Well, I did, and I hated that I waited until the last semester of my senior year. That semester was split up between wheel throwing and hand building, and I was always going into the studio during my free period to explore what clay could do, and finish projects (I loved the art form, but I was very slow, especially as I strived for perfection).
I took a year off between high school and college, attending NJC in Sterling, CO fall of 2014. I went to pursue a degree in psychology, but inquired after a pottery class when asked for an elective. For the three years I attended NJC, I took their ceramics course every semester, and when we moved into the renovated Liberal Arts building in my second year, I used what free time I had to throw on the wheel, experimenting with different forms, sizes, and styles, slowly finding my voice in the medium.
After three years, my time at NJC was complete, but I was not ready to say goodbye to clay again. So, summer of 2017, after I left NJC, I procured myself a wheel and a small kiln (thank the gods for Facebook Marketplace). At the time, the small apartment I was in could not accommodate either piece of equipment, but I made due on the generosity of friends and their garages. After a move to a two-bedroom apartment, I was able to have a small space in our living area to throw, but the kiln still resided elsewhere. It wasn’t until my husband and I bought a house that I was able to have my full studio with me, which I will admit was a breath of fresh air.
After going through a divorce, I moved in with my sister, brother-in-law, and niece, and they were kind enough to give me half of the garage as a studio space. It is definitely a smaller area than what I had before, but I am so happy that I can still create art and grow my business while I work part time as a patient care coordinator for a physical therapist office.
My Artistic Calling
Ever since I started my clay journey, I have been drawn to the wheel and wheel throwing, so my work is almost exclusively made in that style. I have dabbled in hand building, but prefer the ease and symmetry that the wheel lends to my art, especially after so many years honing my skills. I still do some slab work, especially so I may add details to my wheel-thrown items, like the animal stamps I am so fond of.
Pieces that have a use outside of simply being art gives my heart joy. I strive to bring beauty to daily, mundane tasks that are often overlooked - a cup of coffee in the morning, trying to wake up for the day ahead; a bowl of pasta for dinner and a glass of wine to accompany it; doing dishes and placing your sponge upright to dry. By incorporating functional pieces of art into these moments, the tedious can become brighter and more alive.
My art, then, focuses on function, so that every day can have beauty, even in the smallest moments.
My Family
I had many cats that I love with all my heart, but they stayed with my ex-husband when we divorced, which was the best option for them. I kept my two snakes when I moved, and love on my sister’s dogs, whom I currently live with. I hope to eventually have cats again, but my brother-in-law is allergic, so that will be when I am able and ready to move away from them.
Featured are the cats that still hold a place in my heart - and whom I visit on occasion when I am in the area - as well as my snakes.
Loki, my albino corn snake
Jormungandr (Jori for short), my brazilian rainbow boa
Boham, the original clay cat before he crossed the rainbow bridge February 2020
Hel, who loved to jump on my shoulders while in the studio if I was not paying enough attention to him.
Tigger, our old man permanent foster, who would occasionally come in to the studio, do a lap to inspect everything, and then continue on his day.
Thor, who needed to supervise every part of the process.
Skadi, who loved any and all boxes. She would sleep on top of my drying shelves in the bin I kept the plastic used to cover pieces so often that I would have to make sure she wasn’t up there before I closed the studio for the night
Freya, who wasn’t interested in the studio, but would always love to cuddle with me when I was realxing on the couch.