I Second That Emotion!

Topics for this weekly blog usually reflect life observations and clay studio experiences that bubble to the top of my awareness during the week. All of these experiences factor into my life and what I create in the studio. Feelings that are associated with art were front and center for me this week. 

I talked to a potter friend, Lyndsay, during the week about her tearful response when she encountered some pots made by renowned ceramicist Warren McKenzie. She was caught off guard by this reaction but also understood the power of the moment. In the best of circumstances, art can provoke a gut reaction.

Then, I experienced my own emotional reaction when I went to an acoustical guitar performance at the Unitarian Congregation I attended when my children were small. Entering that space and listening to the music unlocked a surge of feelings. Fond memories of meaningful sermons, the recognition that time in my life has passed and the pure enjoyment of live music all flooded together. 

What is it about art that can produce such visceral feelings? If you google “what makes art emotional?", there are lots of links to explore. Art is an expression of the maker that evokes a reaction. It doesn’t have to be complex. Art is really just another form of communication between people. Some artists may plot the intended reaction to their creations; I think most just want their art to make a connection with another person. 

Over the years, as the pieces I make have evolved featuring bright colors, textured surfaces and organic shapes, my own artistic voice has become stronger. These clay vessels and structures are meant to communicate the joy I feel as I make them. I am having a blast in the studio and know I am lucky to experience this on a regular basis. That’s my emotional goal – to let the user in on the happiness I feel when they use a ClayByLaura piece in their daily lives. 

Decisions, Decisions!

Not everything related to my clay endeavors takes place in the studio. My website is a good example of this. It is an important component of marketing my creations and requires continual attention, creativity, discipline and a leap of faith. 

Squarespace is the template provider for my current website. I switched to them about four years ago for numerous reasons and have been happy with that decision over and over. Most of all, it is easy for a non-computer literate person like me to use, the customer support is fantastic and I like the professional outcome. 

I’m in the process of updating the content and some of the look of ClayByLaura.com. It’s important this electronic representation of me and my clay art is accurate, concise, and easy to navigate. It also needs to look good and encourage sales to my customers near and far. Click on the ClayByLaura link to see some of the updates I've made!

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be posting new photographs, playing around with different font styles, adding or subtracting website pages and editing the information on the ClayByLaura website. Your input is important to me. How can I improve your experience on my website? Click on this photo to fill out my survey and provide some feedback! What's important to you?

It's All About The Style

I’ve been thinking about the style of my clay art recently. One of the biggest compliments I receive is when someone sees one of my pieces and immediately recognizes that it was made by me. It has taken me years of practice to get to this stage and find my own creative voice in clay. 

This past week, a pottery group I belong to has been discussing how social media has impacted copying and whether that is a good or bad thing. Some of the questions that have arisen include: "Does an artist want their work to be copied from Internet postings and then sold?"  "Is it okay for an artist to copy another’s work and sell it?"  This discussion has been another way to look at the origins of my own clay art and the creativity behind it. 

When I was first introduced to the Pinterest App, I was obsessed. I love looking at pottery postings and felt I was introduced to new work that I never would have been exposed to before. It upgraded the inspirational hard copy scrapbooks with magazine tear-outs I had previously created to an on-line version. 

In order to make art, it's necessary to gain certain skills. Copying those techniques and universal shapes over and over is necessary and allows a serious artist the opportunity to begin to experiment and tweak and develop their own voice. Confidence builds with each success and every failure. 

When I’ve taught a workshop or class, I’ve noticed that even when every student copies what I’ve demonstrated, none of them looks exactly like mine. They can’t. They may look similar, but not exactly the same. Each person brings their own touch to the clay. 

I like looking at social media to see what other potters are making. It does spark ideas for my own interpretation. Is that a form of copying? I think the answer is probably yes -- in a way. For me, social media is one of the tools I use to promote my own ideas and seek out what other artists are creating. It has opened up an entire world of discovery and I think that is a good thing. I don't like or want to have my own clay art copied exactly and then sold by someone else. That does not seem right, but if I can influence another artist to think outside of their own creative box, it's a good thing. That's how we all grow.

I look at originality as a building block. My creativity is shaped by all I have learned and seen in classes and on-line. I’m turning those ideas into something someone else can look at, recognize and say – “That’s ClayByLaura.”

Have you joined the club yet? Sign up now to get in on the special discount club members will receive for the month of July! It's easy. Click on the photo above. Fill in the information. Check your email. Respond to the email. That's it! You're in!!!

Balancing Act

Searching for balance is a constant both in and between my life and art. There are times where clay is predominant in my daily routine leaving little time for other enjoyments. I tend to lose track of time when I’m in the studio as the creative juices are flowing and I’m focused on the task at hand. It can be kind of addicting; it's easy to spend so much time in the studio that it minimizes time for friends, family and other fun activities. I've found time spent away from the studio is beneficial and contributes to success when I'm creating. 

My angel-inspired clock is a new direction for me. I like the contrast of the glazed and unglazed surface areas!

The intensive cycle of clay-making can be unforgiving and contribute to the abundant time necessary for successful completion of a piece. As a material, clay has its limitations and balance requirements. Too wet, and the clay will not hold a form. Too dry, the clay will crack when bent into shape. Additionally, there are numerous stages throughout the journey to completion that require good timing. Learning to dodge these stumbling blocks is part of creating a successful final product. It’s another balancing act to achieve.

This series of bowls was designed and created exclusively for Yarn On The House (YOTH) to hold  knitting accessories and incense. It was a fun collaboration. I love the simplicity of the decoration. Contact Veronika for sales details!

Finding aesthetic balance is another ongoing challenge I face in the studio. Imagining the final piece guides me through the creation process. I’ve learned to trust my own artistic eye. This translates into an authentic outcome that says, “I’ve been created by Laura.”

Sunrise on Hilton Head is filled with natural beauty. It's surely one of the things my family misses about living here. Luckily, we can all come and revisit the activities and friends we knew here and regain some of that special balance we need in our lives.