I found my freedom in pottery. Celebrate with me!
I was living the life I thought I was supposed to for years before I snapped into a new reality that questioned everything I was doing and why I was here. I had lost sight, but in short, pottery helped me find my way again. After initial contemplation, I invested in a pottery wheel for my 28th birthday and in lieu of multiple career changes, I ended up deciding to officially make pottery the one. Every single step since then has been synchronized and affirming of my choice to live a life of fulfillment and true soul evolvement. I finally understand what it means to work doing what you’re passionate about. It really *doesn’t* feel like work- I even, like many people pursuing their passions, had to get over feeling GUILTY doing it! So here I am. Potter and mother. Wife, daughter, and friend.
My current series has a focus on leaves from the ginkgo biloba tree, which is native to China. The tree can be found in many other places (even right here in Augusta, GA). They are so inspiring to me! I began to notice the ginkgo trees more around the same time I began to pick up my pottery habit, in 2020. This was a year of great transformation for the entire collective, but was also extremely felt on a personal level- I think we can all agree on this. The leaves (at least later, when I’m referring back to this period or collection) will mark a time in my life where I took it into my own hands and realized what I had the capacity to both do, and not do. They will always be meaningful to me now, in that way.
In addition to that, I just love how those tiny, intricate lines appear and grow so perfectly on every single leaf. I love how the tree appears abundant even with so many fallen leaves scattered around it. I LOVE the bright green they are, and equally love the yellow they turn and remain in death. It is ALL so beautiful.
They were my introduction to sgraffito, or the technique I’ve been using to carve them into most everything now. I have carved other things but I always come back to them. This collection will be around for a while, and it’s also *my* first collection or series as an artist, which I had no idea I could be if you had asked me a year ago!
