5 Questions For The Artist

An interview I completed awhile ago was published this past week on a website run by Julia Travers called ‘5 Questions for the Artist’. She asks the same five questions to artists working in all kinds of media. Julia writes, “this site uses a simple but meaningful list of questions to offer concise but engaging conversations with a variety of artists.”

This was a fantastic opportunity to reflect on my time in the studio and why I feel passionate about it. I tried not to overthink the answers.  My answers may resonate with you or lead you to discover your own. There is no right or wrong answer here. 

1. What is art to you?

Art is personal expression. As I’ve grown as a clay artist, I’ve learned to trust my own artistic voice expressed through shape, form, glaze and texture. Art is creative communication that is conveyed through all kinds of media. Music, painting, craft and cooking all offer artistic opportunities.  For me, art generates a sensory reaction. Sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch can be stimulated through art.

I'm inspired by the art I've collected over the years and surround myself with it in my studio. This wall features art by a family friend, art gifts I've received, art by my children and a watercolor I made as a teenager. 

2. What did you make in the past, and why?

In the past I mostly made traditional clay shapes on the wheel, mimicking what I saw my teachers demonstrate. It was a good way to learn technique and materials. Tall forms became vases or pitchers. Round forms turned into bowls or casseroles. My forms were rigid in structure.

Here is a series of bowls I made using a potter's wheel between 1974 and 1998. Texture, underglazes and layered glazes are techniques I used in the past that are still part of my clay-making methods today.

3. What are you making now, and why?

Now I create hand-built shapes using a slab roller and pattern templates I’ve devised. I assemble the pieces I cut out and texture into the final product. This type of clay production feeds my ability for self-expression. I have let go of rigidity in favor of more fluid and organic shapes. I accept a ‘wabi-sabi’ aesthetic to achieve my desired outcome. I often incorporate a mixed media approach using collected and found materials to finish my pieces.  I like making functional items that convey a sense of whimsy.

This series of 'wildflowers' has been fun to create. I'll sell them in bunches at some upcoming shows!

4. What are your hopes for the future?

Creating clay art is the easy part for me.  My challenge is sharing, marketing and selling what I make. I’m working on improving those areas of my clay art business through my website and social media. I am so lucky to be able to go to my studio everyday and do what I love. I hope to continue on this path and grow as an artist.

Custom totems are fun to create. I'm in the early stages of making one for a garden in the Southwest. I'd like to make one for your yard. Click on the photo above to get the conversation going!

Click on the photo to view the full 5 Questions For The Artist interview and see some of the answers other artists have shared. 

5. What else would you like to say?

Thank you for the opportunity to be part of 5 Questions!

5 Questions for the Artist, © Julia Travers

Say It With Flowers

I’m ready to get out in the garden. This time of year, I have all kinds of ideas and stored up energy to dig, plant, transplant and renew my small plot of land. It’s nice to see the new growth of past endeavors beginning to make an appearance and imagine the upcoming warmer months filled with flowers, beauty and budding enjoyment. But it’s still a bit early to fully garden in the northeast, so it’s probably why flowers have been a strong theme in the studio recently.

These new bud vases need one more step before they are complete. I'll add a clear glaze and fire them in the kiln this week. Throughout the summer I like to pick flowers from the garden for the house. Occasionally, when my garden flowers aren't available, I'll buy some at the store. 

I've tweaked my watering can design this year and eliminated the handle, The flower button at the back and neck of the spout can be held to pour water. When it's not being used to water, it can be used to showcase a large bunch of flowers. I think about the functionality of my pieces a lot. I make and design items I want to use in my own home. I'm always thrilled when I hear how purchasers use my ceramics -- often in ways I hadn't even thought of! 

I'm excited about the design of these little ring-holder dishes. I am happy with the overall look, but still need to make some adjustments for total functionality. The creative pottery process takes time and often requires adjustments. I don't find it frustrating -- in fact it's invigorating and keeps me going back to the studio time and again!

Flower designs are showing up on my pots too. This new sponge-holder design is textured with a flowered placemat. I keep one of these next to my kitchen sink to air out, dry and hold my sponge. Drainage holes on the sides and back allow excess water to escape and easily be poured off. Want one? Click on the photo above to purchase.

Flowers are gifted for all kinds of reasons. Many special occasions (think birthdays, weddings and anniversaries) are celebrated with colorful arrangements. Flowers also mark somber circumstances like funerals or get well encouragement. Life-time accomplishments like promotions or graduations are other flower-worthy moments. The beauty of flowers is undeniable. They make us happy, give us comfort, and speak without words. Go out and plant or buy someone flowers today. Just because.

I Gotta Be Me

I have been focusing on my on-line marketing in the last few weeks. I’ve taken some workshops and examined what other clay artists are doing, in order to make adjustments to my own approach. The goal is to gain more ‘eyes’ to my website (my on-line image) and increase my sales. It is an ongoing effort.

Planting flowers in your garden? How about a flower-shaped habitat for the growing bird families in your yard? Click on the photo to see the available color choices.

ClayByLaura is me. Relating a live human being making a 3-dimensional art form into words and photos is the challenge. It is a whole other art form. I’m learning; I’m experimenting; I'm tweaking; I’m making progress; It’s all part of the process.

These new vase shapes are in process. I like the uneven rim. What colors should I use for the glaze? Click on the photo to let me know.

I make clay art because I can and I love to. Developing my on-line social media identity is my newest challenge. It is a fluid process.  Improving my product photography, eliminating unnecessary clutter, increasing my on-line presence, staying consistent – those are the goals. And staying true to me – that is the challenge.

As it states in the lyrics made famous by Sammy Davis Jr. what I need to remember most is: "I gotta be me".

Time To Grow

The weather does not always cooperate with the calendar so it may not feel like Spring quite yet, but the days of cold and dreary are fading and the promise of sun, warmth and growth are within our grasp. In the studio, this time of year it’s a time to shed some of the familiar creative habits and develop some new ideas that have been percolating.

I based this new design on a sponge holder I bought years ago from another potter. I refined the shape and functionality to reflect my own creative methods. I like how this new item is developing!

I choose bright colors for my glazes because they convey the fun I have in the studio and complement the organic shapes I strive to create. Color equals happy – and that’s the emotion I want to achieve when these items are put to use. I believe food looks and tastes better when it’s served in or on an appealing vessel.

This colorful palette combines a single underglaze color with a creamy white glaze.  Which of these is your favorite?  Click on the photo to vote for your choices.

I also use a combination of the single color underglaze with a watery Bluebell glaze. Click on the photo to let me know your favorite combinations.

Spring is the season when outdoor time increases. Daylight lasts longer, the garden beckons to be cleaned up and prepared for new growth. The warm temperature allows me to shed some of winter’s layers. In the studio, I am motivated to design and create items for the outdoor spaces of the yard. Do you have a favorite garden decoration that signals Spring to you?

I’ve also been tweaking and developing my on-line identity to accurately reflect the clay art I produce. Check out the changes to my website including new content and photographs. Some of my favorite recipes are posted for you to enjoy. I’ve updated photographs of my pieces for sale on my Purchase Page to showcase each item without background distractions. I’m also working to enhance my Instagram account. Follow this photo journal to see the latest pictures from my studio. It’s part of the clay journey and helping spread the word about what I create and sell from my studio.

Berry Bowls are back in stock!. This useful colander and drip tray are the perfect size for a pint of your favorite fruit. Easily wash, drain, serve and store with this colorful set. Click on photo to see the available Berry Bowl colors.

I just received this wonderful creation by English ceramic artist Shirley Vauvelle. I've enjoyed looking at her work on-line and was lucky to purchase this sweet bunny and have it shipped 'across the pond'! It makes me happy and is inspiration to continue my own growth and journey in clay.

If At First You Don't Succeed...

Try, try again. Clay is the perfect medium for this wisdom. Trial and lots of error are common occurrences in this art form. There are several stages before a piece is finished where things can go wrong.  Warping, cracks and breakage are just a few of the obstacles potters face when working in clay. The good news is we learn from these errors and forge ahead with creating – adapting techniques to avoid potential pitfalls and experience pure joy when a piece emerges from a final glaze firing – intact – and better than we even imagined. That feeling spurs us on to create even more.

These little bowls are in process for a special yarn pop-up shop in early May. I'm trying out some new glaze techniques and wording with these new shapes. Click on the photo to find out more about this special yarn sale!

These lessons in the studio easily translate to our daily living. Overcoming mistakes, disappointments and unforeseen obstacles in our lives help us grow stronger as individuals. Learning to embrace these foils and move forward is hard. But I think it’s a given – we will all face some sort of failure or roadblock in our lives and trying again is a way toward those rewarding successes in our lives that keep us going back for more.

I've broadcast several times on Periscope. It's one more way to connect with an audience of peers and potential customers. Each Periscope experience has taught me how to improve my skills for the next time. It's been fun, rewarding and has become another tool to help grow my business. You can watch my broadcasts by downloading the Periscope App to your mobile or tablet device through ITunes.

I’m learning that the business of clay mirrors these lessons as well. Trying new methods of marketing is filled with all kinds of failures that ultimately help guide the path to success. It’s a learning curve. But you’ve got to try and try again in order to succeed.

In past blog posts, I have posted a few different opportunities to gather feedback from you. What I've recently learned is that they haven't really worked well based on the way the blog is distributed. I think I've fixed the problem and would like to give it another try. Please click on the photo questions below to answer one or more of these questions. This information is invaluable to me and will help me make more of what you'd like.

Let me know the piece of pottery you use all the time. It doesn't have to be one of mine. Click on the photo above to answer this question.

If you own one of my pieces of pottery, what is it and and when do you use it? Click on the photo above to answer this question.

Is there a piece of pottery you'd like me to make? Tell me! Click on the photo above to answer the question.

Playing Favorites

There are certain dishes and serving pieces in my kitchen that get repeated use. I’ve made some of them and have purchased others from craft shows, clay artists or galleries. I’m curious about why I constantly reach for and use certain dishes. I think there are several reasons.

I like the size:

I made this bowl in 2002 when I was using the potters wheel and a different glaze technique at a community studio. It was one of the few 'bright' colors available. It's the perfect serving size for any side dish I've made for a meal.

 I like the color:

This color combination of Red underglaze and Bluebell glaze makes me happy. I reach for this bowl for my daily morning cereal or yogurt and granola!

I like the shape:

I bought this fun mug at a craft show from Sarah McCarthy. I just love its unique shape in addition to it's wonderful glaze technique. When I'm not using one of my own mugs, I reach for this one.

It’s a reminder:

I recently received this bowl in a trade with another potter. Each time I use it, I'm not only reminded of the potter and incredible food blogger, Deb Bernstein that created it -- but I'm also grateful for the generosity of the clay community I'm lucky to be part of.

It’s functional:

This salt cellar sits next to my cook top. It's such a simple design. I use it constantly to add a pinch of salt to my recipes. I'm working on making more of these in the studio now.

I want to hear about your go-to pieces in your kitchen. It doesn't have to be one I made.  I want to make what you like to use on a daily basis and for entertaining. When you send in the form, you'll receive a thank you gift from me for your effort! Click on photo to submit your feedback!

Watch and Learn

I’m a visual learner. It’s the best way for me to acquire a new skill, remember it and then begin to practice it. The Internet is a whole new resource for learning this way through video tutorials on any topic you can imagine. My phone and computer are now an integral part of accessing new information. When I teach, demonstrations are always the center of a lesson. Talking and written handouts are important tools to reinforce new lessons, but showing how a technique is accomplished helps it become intuitive for students.

I often demonstrate my own hand-building process at galleries and shows. First, it’s an icebreaker and opens the door for people to engage and learn a little bit about pottery. Non-artists are drawn to see (and touch) and watch how a pot is made. Artists like to ‘talk shop’, observe and swap ideas. In both cases, people walk away with a new appreciation for the clay-making process and a new connection to the artist behind the craft.

This coming week I’ll be demonstrating how I make what I call a ‘split bowl’ through an internet feed called Periscope and in person at The Muse in Frederick, Md. in honor of National Craft Month. I use the split bowl technique as a base for many of my finished pieces. They are fun to make and a great shape to demonstrate.

Click on the Periscope logo above to check out this resource and download the App for yourself! Periscope provides live broadcast streaming and additional viewing for a 24 hour period. Viewers can interact by texting in to the show while it's live. Its a great way to showcase skills and interact with an audience near and far.  I will air my first broadcast this Wednesday at 10 am EST. You'll be able to watch how I create a split bowl, ask questions and see my studio.

For those of you living nearby, I'll be at The Muse in downtown Frederick, Md. on Saturday showing the same split bowl process. I'd love to have you stop by, say hello and watch as I create. The Muse will showcase a variety of artists demonstrating their process throughout March in honor of National Craft Month.

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Little Things Make a Big Difference

Shopping these days just isn’t like it used to be. (I can hear my mother coming out of my mouth!) But the truth is, the way we shop now is completely different from ‘way back in the day’ when I was growing up. Now it’s easy to search, click and purchase without leaving home. There are HUUUUGE outlets to buy at a discount or in bulk. Stores are open 24/7.

All these options lack one of the shopping experiences that I miss the most – personal connection. Sure, it might be easier to find what you are looking for and pay the minimum amount for it, but the valuable interaction between a sales person/shop keeper and buyer is missing.

I think the recent movements to buy local produce from farms, support small boutiques in your neighborhood and purchase crafts straight from the maker are an effort to re-establish this connection in our fast-paced world. When you interact with the people directly responsible for the items they sell – growing them, making them or selecting them for their shops – it changes the purchase experience and makes it personal.

Selling my clay art in person is the best. I get to meet people, see how they interact with my pottery, talk and develop a bond. When my pieces are sold in other shops and galleries, I rely on the pottery to attract a buyer, include a short story about the piece with a hang tag and trust the salesperson to help seal the deal. On the internet – it’s a whole new ball game and I’m still tweaking this interaction to make transactions happen.

To make a sale online, I rely on photos and words to create the customer connection to my clay art and to me. Capturing just the right balance is a work in progress. Luckily, on the internet it's easy to find fantastic examples of great product photography and tons of tutorials on making a sale. Attracting people you don't know to make a purchase is a matter of communicating and making a personal connection.

Attention to detail is key for continued sales success online. Making sure the product matches the photo and description goes without saying, but follow through, quickly responding to emails, answering questions and even providing added value to the sale all contribute to building success.

I often include little extras – like recipe cards – to add value to a ClayByLaura purchase. I've found this additional detail provides another layer of personal connection. People often tell me how they use one of my pieces on a regular basis and how it makes them feel good -- that's the ultimate compliment and best connection I could hope for. Now I just need to figure out how to capture that sentiment and spread it to new and potential ClayByLaura customers 'out there.'

Word of mouth is one of the best ways to grow. Please tell your friends and family about ClayByLaura by signing them up to receive regular notifications from the studio!

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