Playing Favorites

I answered several interview questions this week for a future article in a local magazine. The queries were interesting, insightful, and thought-provoking. I’m still thinking about one of the questions in particular – “Describe your favorite piece or one that stands out in particular.”

I’ve created a lot of pottery over the years and when I thought about answering this question, I had a hard time choosing one favorite. I tend to fall in love with the piece of pottery I am making at the moment. Even if I’ve made the shape in the past or over and over in a series, each one I develop holds its own value and personality for me. An advantage of having a home studio is the ability to nurture each stage of the creative process any time of day or night. I admit that I sometimes visit the studio just to admire and drink in what has been created that day or week. 

Of course, there are certain pots I’ve made that signify key developmental stages in my clay journey. The first large (heavy) platter I successfully threw on the wheel is still pulled out to serve food at a large gathering; a succession of bowls in various sizes I use while cooking on a daily basis; and a variety of hand-built containers I created as I learned new methods of shaping clay all stand out in my mind.

I answered the reporter’s question in a similar way. I mentioned how significant each piece I create is to me. And, I chose to describe one of the driftwood basket series I first made when we lived in Hilton Head, SC. I’d long thought about the idea of combining my love of knitting and clay. Initially, I’d wanted to somehow embellish the edge of a pot with stitched wire. But that’s how the creative process goes. I start off with a picture of one thing in my mind and as it evolves, it transforms into an even better idea. The driftwood baskets fit neatly into purchased wrought iron stands, incorporate collected driftwood from daily walks on the beach, and satisfied my desire to add a stitched element with a crocheted leather cord along the edge. 

This particular basket is destined to raise money for a charity called Village of Promise during a show I'm doing in Huntsville, Alabama in about a month. Want to bid on it and contribute to this wonderful cause? Click on the photo and send me a message and I'll get you in on the bidding!

Do you have a favorite ClayByLaura piece? I’d like to hear about it and tell me why! Click here to let me know!.

Know It All

When’s the last time you learned something new? It could have been a formal class, or just an informal encounter. If you think about it and are open to it, I bet you realize you are constantly enlightened with new skills and knowledge. 

This driftwood basket is one of several I've completed this past week that will be available for sale at The Cooley Gallery in Leesburg, Va.

One reason I like to publicly demonstrate my clay-making skills is to share the process with people. Many people I encounter simply use pottery and never really understand how it is created; others might dabble or professionally create their own pottery. These interactions are fun. People like to watch and talk about any past experience they may have had with clay or art; experienced potters like to share some of their own clay knowledge with me. While I demonstrate, I explain the steps of making a clay vessel and hopefully help novices understand the value of creating a useful object from a lump of clay. I always learn from these encounters as well. People offer useful ideas for shapes, lend me the bottom of their shoes for new texture designs (I always bring extra clay to make new stamps this way!) and remind me how lucky I am to do what I love. 

Click on photo to see video of the demo that was posted live on Facebook!

This past week I demonstrated my clay-making during a First Friday event at The Cooley Gallery in Leesburg, Virginia. They just began selling my clay creations. I showed how I make my yarn bowls. These showcase lots of applied texture and require some interesting assembly. I even use  a small rubber ball to form the bowl which piques interest. Lots of people attended; I experienced great interactions with the attendees but there was one memorable patron in particular that caught my attention. He asked why I was showing the gallery owner how I make pottery because he should ‘know everything already.’ Nah. Not true. In pottery, there is ALWAYS room to learn and grow. This is one reason I love working in this medium. Plus it reflects so much of life. I’ll never stop learning and am happy to admit I don’t know it all.