What is this?

Throughout the month of January, Artisan Crafts Month, I will be posting interviews with artisans who have made a difference on dA either through their own artisan crafts, or the effort they put into the community (and it's usually a combination of the two!)

This is the interview with *lisaluera, Pottery mistress.

First, a little about *lisaluera.

It is interesting to find out about Lisa that in the artisan crafts world she actually started out doing Pumpkin Carvings (you can see her wonderful work here on dA: ~pumpkinsbylisa!), and didn't get into pottery until about a year and a half ago when she randomly took a class on it. Lisa says that she was instantly hooked. She says that the first time she felt the clay run through her fingers, she knew it was something that she was going to be doing for the rest of her life. One thing that she has learned about herself is that she is a perfectionist - it is difficult for her to accept her inner control freak, but Lisa claims that she is embracing it more and more each day.

The Interview

Life on dA.

Q: Has deviantART been an influence on your art, and how so?

A: Getting true feedback and critiques from “strangers” has been the biggest influence for me. My mom and my family are going to tell me they like my work no matter what.


Q: Has the deviantART community helped you develop your own style of art?

A: Various comments and discussions have helped me realize what is influencing my style. Sometimes I don’t notice trends in my pieces until I start getting similar comments.


Q: What is one thing you enjoy most about the deviantART community?

A: That it is a community completely focused around the love of art. In my everyday life in the corporate world, I don’t really get the opportunity to discuss art with other people. They don’t understand it, or get bored with it. They think a nice mug is one you buy at the store. I always have my friends here on DA though to talk about techniques, critiques, you name it.


Q: Has deviantART helped you create your artwork in any way (ie. through inspiration, helped you learn, etc.)?

A: I have met a wonderful group of people that are always willing to answer questions. Seeing how others will make use of a specific technique, or making me look at ideas from a different point of view has inspired me to approach my work in new ways. Contacts I have made have also given me opportunities that I would have never had in the past. ~da4tner was gracious enough to invite me to a wood firing at his university. I don’t have access to that type of kiln, so it was something I would have not been able to experience if he hadn’t offered.

Life through ART.

Q: How would you describe your artistic style?

A: That is a very difficult question. I am definitely drawn to clean lines and classic forms. However I like the surfaces on those forms to be very dramatic and organic. I still feel like I’m trying to find and develop my style. I have been told by others that I do have a very definite style to my work, but I think this is one of the areas that I underestimate myself. I still feel like it needs to be developed further.


Q: What is the one fundamental thing you keep in mind when creating your artwork?

A: Quality. I won’t put a piece out there if it’s not something I’m proud of. During a workshop I attended this summer, a very well known potter made the statement, “It should hurt to sell a piece of your work. If it doesn’t, it’s not worthy of selling in the first place.” That statement really rings true for me.


Q: Where does most of your inspiration come from when creating your artwork?

A: I get inspiration from everywhere. I could look at pottery books/magazines/websites forever and never get bored. Flowers, plants, and organic lines are something I am really drawn to, so they also tend to show up in my pots in various ways. Lately I have also started to identify my pots with different body types. So people watching is a big inspiration to me as well.


Q: Has creating artwork carried over into your career?

A: Not necessarily in the actual work that I do, but I have found that my coworkers are becoming more educated about the value of hand made objects.


Q: Are there any tips you can share regarding Pottery?

A: Don’t be afraid to experiment. I have learned more from the pots that I have ruined than from the ones that are successful.

The Future.

Q: What do you think the future is for Artisan Crafts on dA?

A: I think the Artisan Crafts gallery directors, and various clubs are definitely doing their part to make Artisan Crafts more recognized on dA. I think the category will continue to grow.


Q: What would you like to see in the future for Artisan Crafts?

A: MORE! More potters, more leather workers, more wood carvers, more fiber artists, you get the idea. The general public has learned to settle for mass produced goods. I think more exposure to Artisan Crafts on dA and in general will help people realize the art in hand made work.


Q: What are your goals for the future through your artwork?

A: Continue to learn, improve, and evolve my work. I don’t want to get stagnant. I’m still experimenting with ways to control the chaotic firing techniques that I use. I’m also exploring other ways to finish my pots through altering and surface textures. You can see some of that starting to show up in my gallery, but I don't think I have truly made that "mine" yet.

Closing thoughts.

Q: Are there any last thoughts you would like to say here?

A: I am so appreciative for dA. It has given me friends across the world, has exposed my work to people that I would have never been able to do on my own, and has exposed me to more artwork and creativity than I ever realized was out there.


Q: Finally, which Tutorials would you recommend for other Pottery artists to use?

A: Actually, I’m not aware of any pottery tutorials on dA. Hmmm… maybe that’s a contest idea I should suggest to some of the pottery clubs!






Thank you for taking the time to read this interview with *lisaluera, and a special thank you to her for participating! Please stay tuned for more!