Looking Back While Moving Forward

In and out of the studio this week, I’ve had the opportunity to revisit past career accomplishments, reconnect with people I worked with over 30 years ago and attend a Stanley Cup Final event after 42 years of rooting for the Washington Capitals hockey team. In each situation, I’ve been able to reflect how my past experiences have shaped the person and artist I am today. 

Attending Datatel’s 50th Anniversary party this past week was a fun reminder of my early communications career.  Writing, advertisement development, and inter-office employee communication skills were all part of my job at the early stages of this computer/software company. It was a nurturing environment which touched all of us who worked there. Creativity was encouraged and fostered. I know I use those same skills in my personal creative endeavors today.

It’s been fun to witness the Washington Capitals play in the NHL Stanley Cup Finals. Since my husband and my son have worked in the sports arenas where the team plays throughout the history of the franchise, I am a fan by default. I’ve attended games throughout those times, witnessed the ups and downs of winning and losing and am currently ‘rockin’ the red.’

One of the constants throughout my past career and Washington Capitals fandom have been pottery and knitting. The ceramics classes I took from master potter Cliff Lee more than 30 years ago while working at Datatel resonate with the clay artist I’ve developed into right now. Back then, I made pottery on the wheel and learned to be confident with artistic decision-making. Those lessons are present in my hand-built clay creations today. I've been knitting for about as long as I've had a hand in clay. A yarn project has accompanied me to many a sporting event throughout those years!

My signature today, still looks the same as it did back in 1982.

Perspective gives us a chance to look back at life choices and significant life events that influence current decisions and circumstances. This past week, I especially realize how lucky I've been to learn and grow from past endeavors. I understand now, it all boils down to the special people we encounter throughout these experiences that make them so significant. It was good to spend time with so many of those people this past week.

Look For The Helpers...

Mr. Rogers’ sage advice summarizes my participation in Huntsville, Alabama’s Panoply Arts Festival this past weekend. ClayByLaura is not a solo endeavor. I am the hub surrounded by a multitude of spokes (helpers) that enable the clay creations from my studio to land in homes and gardens for use and enjoyment. I am so grateful.

My husband helped with the (literal) heavy lifting, driving, and emotional anxiety I experience during this type of event. His booth layout suggestions were spot on. Lesson learned: trust new ideas.

My Huntsville family, Donna and Mike embraced the whirlwind of disruption to their daily routines and welcomed our dog Carson into their home and beautiful garden. They fed and nurtured us throughout our stay, assisted in the booth throughout the festival, publicized ClayByLaura to their friends and helped us fall in love with Huntsville over and over.

My Huntsville friends were there in force. People I’d met on my past trips came to the event, shopped and told their friends and made me feel welcome. A special shout out to Teresa who spent hours of each day in my booth, encouraging sales, writing and wrapping up purchases, and giving me breaks to enjoy the festival a little. 

One more advantage of show participation is the other artists you meet. The pop-up village quickly becomes a supportive community. Chris and Lauren of DrawDog came to my rescue when a gust of wind knocked over one of my shelves and several of my pieces broke. It’s awful when it happens, but it happens. They were right there by my side, picking up pieces, offering help and providing just the emotional support I needed at the time.

Do you live in Huntsville and still want to shop for ClayByLaura locally? Good News! Several of my creations are now available at The Little Green Store and Gallery thanks to Ana Byrne! And, I'll be coming back with more pottery before the year ends for a special show at the shop! Keep your eye open for details!

Helpers are everywhere. Without looking, you just need to be open to their offers. And likewise, when the opportunity arises, be that helper yourself.

Why Buy?

Why buy? This question probably has a very simple answer and one that delves deeper. I ask it because it’s on my mind. I saw a post in a pottery group recently that asked why a potter would purchase anything from another potter. I buy pottery from other artists all the time. So I started thinking about why I buy stuff. In turn, it makes me think about why someone would pay for items I create. 

I made this series of masks using a quilting technique I learned when we lived in Charlotte, NC. I had fun designing the 'hair' of each one using the bristles from a scrub brush, twigs from the yard, buttons, copper tubing, coiled-wire and beads. I have kept them for my own art collection. I try not to make something just because I think it will sell, I make what I love -- that's usually when sales follow. 

Emotion quickly comes to mind as a reason behind a purchase. When I buy something I want, it makes me feel good. This often includes pottery made by others. I use my own pieces all the time, but I appreciate and covet clay objects created by other artists. I like to support fellow crafters and I cannot make pottery the way they do. 

I've just created a wrap bracelet incorporating a decorated piece of my clay and recycled bits of old jewelry. Here's the prototype I've made. You'll be able to create one of these too in an upcoming class through The Muse in Frederick, Md. If you can't make it, would you like me to make one for you?  Click on this photo to let me know!

Need is another reason to buy. Whether it’s perceived or actually fulfills a necessary function can be debatable. Do I need another pair of earrings? No. Will it complement an outfit I have in mind? Yes. Purchase made. 

I love how these square bowls look and nest together! Now I'm going to perfect the production process. I'll add them to my shop in the Spring. Any thoughts on colors you'd like to see? Click on this photo to let me know. 

Ease of sale. Computer clicks make it incredibly easy to buy these days. It is fast, but you must rely on a written description and a photo. I’ve shopped this way numerous times, but I think I still prefer a brick and mortar experience in person. 

It's hard to believe the same blue glaze can look so different depending on the color that lies beneath! Here are some new mugs fresh from the kiln.

Price. I’ve fallen victim to buying something because I couldn’t pass up the low price. I may not need it or even want it. But feeling as if I’ve gotten ‘such a deal’ has overridden all the other reasons to purchase. 

I’m sure there are numerous studies on the psychology of sales. I’ve even succumbed to some on-line courses on improving my skills in social media and website construction. I'd like to hear your opinions on this subject too. Tell me how I can improve the buying experience for you. Photos of my pieces in use? Pricing? Ease of sale? I look forward to hearing from you! Click this photo to let me know.

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!!!