PE - Interview with BishopMaple

_{As part of the projecteducate Artisan Crafts Week we are posting specials, interviews and features all around the Artisan Crafts galleries. We will introduce various types of artisan crafts, tackle misconceptions and show you some of the best works in their genre. If you have any questions or suggestions, don't hesitate to note me.}

Today I would like to introduce you to an outstanding artist in their field. Representing part of the Ceramics, Pottery & Clay gallery, CreativelyStrange takes some time to talk to us, so let's get started.

Clay can be used to create a variety of works, including beautiful pots, cups, vases, jugs, plates and much more. A large variety of different glazes serve to make each piece unique and durable. CreativelyStrange creates a large variety of clay works, but let's let him speak for himself.



Hello! Could you please tell us a bit about yourself?


CreativelyStrange: I started working with clay about 10 years ago and it happened just in time!  I am a CAD Technician (draftsman) and work for an engineering consulting firm and there isn't a lot of room for artistic creativity in my job.  I was really needing a creative outlet and literally thought I was going to go nuts if I didn't find something soon.  I was sketching and not doing too bad but could never really get the refinement that I was after plus I work with paper all day so it wasn't doing much for me.  I thought about wood working but quickly remembered shop class in highschool and got a cold chill.  I SUCK WITH WOOD!  The very next day I went to lunch with some other CAD monkeys in town and one of them told me I should sign up for this handbuilding clay class he was teaching at a community studio.   I thought to myself  clay, yeah clay!  I took a pottery class in highschool and really enjoyed it.  So I said sure.  I was instantly hooked.  Now I work right across the street from that same community studio and learned how to throw (use a wheel) two years ago.  Now days I am selling my goods on etsy.com and locally so the whole thing is paying for itself and affording me a little beer. on the side.  I try to treat it like a second job as far as hours I put in and shoot for 20 per week.  Sometimes it happens however most of the time I hit 15 but I have this really swell girl friend that makes missing those other 5 worth it



Could you explain your creative process to us?


CreativelyStrange: I find inspiration everywhere.  I look at how things are made or put together and translate it into clay.  Its just a matter of the clay letting you get away with it or not.  I am facenated hardware and my dad was a black smith for years so I love the look of iron and industrial stuff.



Where do you work and what materials do you use?


CreativelyStrange: I have a small studio with a wheel in my basement and I also rent a studio space in a local studio called The Helena Clay Arts Guild.  I started out as a handbuilder so I have a lot of clay tools and many that came from thrift stores or fished out of the dumpster.  The guild shares a dumpster with a carpenter's shop and he throws out the best scrap.  I get most of my clay from The Archie Bray Foundation and also from Georgies in Portland OR.  I really love Georgies clay!



Do you have any tips for beginners?


CreativelyStrange: Practice practice practice!  And Simon Leach has a ton of videos on youtube that helped me out a lot.



What's your biggest aspiration regarding your artisan crafts work?


CreativelyStrange: Right now I want to make some fancy beer growlers that have swing tops on them.  I really enjoy drinking tea and English ales so I really enjoy making beer and tea ware.  I have a bunch of requests that I need to get out of the way before I can really dedicate myself to them though.  Long term I would like to make enough ware to enter a certain art festival in a neighboring city that I have a high regard for.  Then I would like to be in the Portland Saturday Market a few times to see how I do.  Eventually when I retire I would like to book a few craft fair dates to use as an excuse to get out of town and see some of the country.  A little extra scratch to keep me in the .  I take my craft very seriously on the perfectionist side of things but I don't ever want it to feel like its a job.  I really find peace in creating things and I don't want anything to ever take that away.



Which work in your gallery are you most proud of and why?


CreativelyStrange: I learn something from every single thing I make.  I really can't single out a favorite.  They all represent a breakthrough of one kind or another to me.





Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us! I hope you go on creating amazing artwork for all of us to enjoy.

Cheers,
MyntKat