When it comes to working in an art form like ceramics, you get pretty used to things being considered fragile. Because let’s face it - pottery breaks.
That said, its fragility is one of the many reasons I love working with ceramics. Life is much the same way. Relationships can be broken, our bodies can start to fall apart, or so on. But much of the time, you can simply start again to make things new or repair what has been broken.
I adore art that I can look upon and smile at each day - I have a few shelves in my home office dedicated just to that. But I also appreciate the handmade items that I can touch and use daily that bring value to my everyday life. I love the idea of someone leaving a market or opening a package from me with a little piece of ceramic goodness inside that then becomes part of their daily routine.
A coffee mug. A spoon rest. A ring dish. A soap catcher. These are all staples in my home that have been made by me or other artists whose work I appreciate.
I enjoy functional art. It is a staple of my business. A mug should feel right in your hand on a slow morning. A dish should hold real dinner, go in the dishwasher, and come back out ready for the next one. The beauty isn't separate from the use — but rather the whole point of it.
Don’t save it for good. The good is now.
There's something I love about a piece earning its little marks over the years: the spot worn smooth where your thumb always lands, the way a glaze softens with washing. That's not damage. That's a life being lived alongside something handmade.
So pour the coffee, fill the bowl, set the table. That’s where these pieces are happiest, and honestly, so am I.
