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#148 How To Create Textured and Colored Pottery w/ Amy Brummond
45 Plays3 years ago
What is up Shaping Nation on todays episode of Shaping Your Pottery I got to interview Amy Brummond. Amy calls herself the middle aged clay enthusiast. Amy makes some wonderful slab built pottery with texture,patterns, and bright colors. You can learn more about Amy by checking out her Instagram @pinezenpottery
Top 3 Value Bombs
- How to create texture patterns with bright colors
- Trying different techniques to find one that clicks for you
- Curing Boredom by creating challenges for yourself and your pottery
and so much more
The Questions we ask will determine how our pottery will look like that's why I created a Free 15 questions to help you discover your voice template go grab it here www.shapingyourpottery.com/questions
Follow me on Instagram @nictorres_pottery
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Transcript
Introduction of Podcast and Guest
00:00:01
Speaker
If you love pottery and want to take your skills to the next level, you're in the right place. Find your own pottery style right here on Shaping Your Pottery with Nick Torres. Let's get started.
00:00:13
Speaker
What is up, Shaping Nation? This is Nick Torres here, and in this episode of Shaping Your Pottery, I got to interview Amy Brumman. Amy makes some really incredible texture and colorful pottery that she slap built. In this episode, you will learn how Amy makes her slap built texture and colored pottery. You'll also learn about
00:00:35
Speaker
why you should be trying different techniques in order to really find one that clicks for you. Finally, the last thing you'll learn is you'll learn how to cure boredom with pottery by trying new things and challenging yourself. Let's get to this episode.
Amy's Journey to Pottery
00:00:54
Speaker
Amy, welcome to Shaping Your Pottery and share with me what is something people might not know about you.
00:01:00
Speaker
I feel like I'm pretty transparent in general, but my dream when I left high school was to become a radio DJ. And I actually went to college for, I started out in college pursuing that path. It changed though, obviously.
00:01:19
Speaker
Love it. That's awesome. So you call yourself a middle-aged clay enthusiast. Can you tell me the story about this? Sure. Well, I found clay in midlife. I started doing clay when my youngest son started kindergarten and I was already in my mid 40s at that time. And then as far as calling myself an enthusiast, that's because I don't consider myself an expert at all. You know, I just feel.
00:01:47
Speaker
drawn to clay and I feel very enthusiastic about it. So that's why I call myself that. What made you get started when your son was in kindergarten? Well, I had taken a community ed class in 1999, a long time ago.
00:02:10
Speaker
And there was just something about it that kind of planted a seed, you know, that I was always wondering, maybe I should try that again. And then I had been a stay-at-home mom during both of my kids' early years. And I was like, well, maybe I'll try to get a job, or maybe I'll pursue this little idea.
00:02:36
Speaker
So Clay won out and I ended up getting kick wheel. Cause that's when I, when I did the community ed class, I fell in love with the kick wheel, just, you know, self powered and just the rhythm of it. So we got a kick wheel and we have a small shed on our property and we just decided to turn it into my little studio, my little space.
00:03:01
Speaker
That's amazing. So how did getting into clay help you grow and find your authentic self?
Community and Creativity in Pottery
00:03:08
Speaker
Well, I think mostly it's that I realized I'm a creative person. I think we all are creative people. Every human has creativity inside of them somewhere. And for me, it was about finding the medium that would let me express that creativity.
00:03:31
Speaker
If that makes sense. So yeah, that's. I love it. I think, I think it is very important to like kind of find something that you want to express to have creativity in your life. I think it's really powerful. Yeah. And let's talk. Go ahead. I was just going to say the other part of that would be, I think through finding clay, I found the clay community, which is also part of, you know,
00:03:59
Speaker
resonating yourself with a community and being embraced by a community kind of helps you feel like an authentic person, you know, where you have a you have a place to be, you know, to express yourself. Absolutely great. I feel like that's what like makes the clay community so special is that everybody's so like, kind of warm and welcoming and they all like give encouragement. I love that 100%.
00:04:24
Speaker
I agree. So let's talk about your pottery.
Techniques and Inspirations
00:04:27
Speaker
In one sentence, can you tell me what you make? I make full, joyful art. Can you tell me the story how you started making your pottery that you make today? Sure. So I started out wheel throwing, as I mentioned, on a kick wheel. And I fell in love with using transfers, newsprint transfers and also rice paper transfers, but mostly the
00:04:53
Speaker
newsprint transfers. So I was wheel throwing and then adding the pattern on. And I enjoyed that. I'm not really exactly sure what made me go, hey, I'm going to slab build instead. But I think it was I decided I wanted to lay down the transfer and then add texture. So stamping within the texture as well, like creating different levels of surface design.
00:05:20
Speaker
And I found that slab building was more conducive to making that happen. I mean, you can stamp a wheel thrown vessel as well, but slab building just worked best for me. So I started out by doing the transfers and then I would stamp. And then I decided to start adding color in the stamps. And that's really when I'm like, oh, I'm onto something. I really like this.
00:05:50
Speaker
You know, cause a lot of people, the other thing about think what helped me go a little further was that at that time and even today, a lot of people use transfers. So, you know, I didn't want my pots to look like everyone else. You know, if everyone's using a certain transfer, you know,
00:06:11
Speaker
it can all start looking the same. So I wanted to try to find a way to make it my own with using transfers. So I decided I'd start layering those different surface techniques on top of each other. What did you do to experiment so you can different yourself besides the stamping and the colors?
00:06:36
Speaker
I guess just, I mean, I think trying different techniques of how you make a vessel, whether it's wheel throwing, pinching, slab building. For me, it was when I started slab building that it really clicked, you know, and then just adding those different things together really, I think made a difference for me, you know, if that makes sense.
00:07:02
Speaker
Yeah, I absolutely agree with trying different techniques because I feel like we may be stuck on one thing for a while, but then like we're a little bit antsy to try to go and try another thing. But once we try the other thing, something will definitely click. I've definitely felt that pretty recently with myself. Yeah, that's cool. So can you walk me through on how you create your patterns and add the colors onto your pottery?
00:07:26
Speaker
Sure. Well, to me, I approach the slab because I start with a full slab of clay that I roll out with my slab roller. And I'm thinking about the pattern and then the texture and then the color that will eventually be laid inside the stamps. So yeah, I mean, I use different Neuse print transfers. I pretty much only use Neuse print transfers now and I use
00:07:53
Speaker
One, a couple of commercial stamps, but then I've also made my own stamps. I say my voice has very much developed alongside the use of the transfers. So they've kind of informed the direction that I've chosen to go, for sure. I love it. So you are inspired by quilts, fabrics, knitted blankets. How does this impact what your pottery will look like? So for me,
00:08:21
Speaker
It's kind of like I realized it after the fact, you know, that the pattern that I lay down first is kind of like the stitches of a quilt or the outline you'll see on like a knitted blanket. And then within those there's texture.
00:08:40
Speaker
And so the stamp is the texture element of the design that a quilt or a crocheted blanket would be. And then, of course, adding underglazes is the color element. So it's those three things. It's pattern, texture, and color and how those all come together.
00:09:00
Speaker
to create a cohesive whole, you know, because quilts are made up of lots of different elements that, you know, and then you see a flower or you see, you know, a windmill or a diamond shape. So I think that that's the inspiration in how I try to get to my pots. What advice would you give to someone trying to add texture or color into their pottery?
00:09:26
Speaker
Well, I guess I'd start with one or the other first, maybe, and try to really find where it feels like your own. I mean, you can do both. So if you wanted to add the texture, a stamp, and then just glaze it and not add underglaze, or add underglaze
00:09:52
Speaker
I, you know, maybe draw with underglaze. If you, like, I, I don't think I'm not really a good freehand drawer, you know, but if you are, maybe try doing that with underglaze. So, or create some stamps just for fun and then play around, you know, not intending keep a piece, but just play around with like repeating a pattern with a stamp and
00:10:17
Speaker
and see where that leads you. You may just smush it up and reclaim the clay, but at least you've kind of explored how you would do that, creating a pattern.
00:10:31
Speaker
I absolutely agree. Shaping Nation, if you are trying to figure out two things at once, it's not gonna really work out too, too well. It's better to focus in on one thing at a time, go deep on that one thing, and once you get good at that one thing, go onto another thing. That way you go deep on that. Yeah, exactly.
00:10:50
Speaker
I would agree with that.
Philosophy and Breakthroughs
00:10:51
Speaker
So you have a quote that you kind of live by, which states, always be more curious than afraid. What impact does this quote have on you growing as an artist? I think mostly it's about living an open-hearted life. The unknown is very scary. I mean, whether it's about who you are as an artist or the direction you want to go in life.
00:11:17
Speaker
I'm not a big, I don't really think, feel the fear and do it anyway, but that's kind of what it is, that it's scary to do new things and it's scary to say yes to things that you're not sure you're gonna be good at. So to me, that's what it means. The curiosity leads instead of the fear. The curiosity, you're like, well, what if I try that? Or what if I say yes to that?
00:11:46
Speaker
what could happen instead of the fear keeping you from that, keeping you from exploring or saying yes to an opportunity. Absolutely, Griege. Shaping Nation, if you are a little bit afraid, try to change your mindset and think about what if this thing happened and it went right instead of it went wrong. Could you imagine what that could do to your pottery? I think that would really help you guys out a lot. Yeah, that's well said, Nick.
00:12:15
Speaker
So let's talk about discovering your voice. Can you tell me about the moment when you knew you found your unique voice? Yeah, I remember it very distinctly. I actually posted about it on Instagram recently. It was when I had done the hexagon pattern and then I had stamped the flowers and then I decided to add rainbow colors
00:12:42
Speaker
to all the flowers and rainbow dots to all the centers of the flowers. And I remember pulling it from the kiln and being like, whoa, you know, just like, that's exactly what I thought I wanted to create. And there it is, it actually exists in the world. You know, it was a very, it's a fantastic feeling. I actually think it's what we're always chasing, you know, as artists. It's not like you do it once and you're like, okay, I did it.
00:13:12
Speaker
You know, you want more of that for sure. I love that. I absolutely agree. Shaped Nation, it's better to chase that feeling of, wow, this is amazing. I want to make this again than rather just trying to get that one and done thing. Continue growing and continue growing. And that's how your voice is going to show up. I 100% agree with that. What struggles did you face when you were trying to find your own voice? That's a good question. I think
00:13:40
Speaker
mostly like when you're beginning, we do copy a lot, you know, we're, we see someone do something, and it looks like something that we might want to try. And so I think you do do a lot of copying at the beginning, you know, and it is kind of a struggle, I think it's part of the struggle of finding your voice is trying a bunch of different techniques. And then finding the one that
00:14:10
Speaker
resonates with you and that you can distill into your own voice, basically. But I think that that would be, you know, you just, you, you do a lot of copying, you know, you're like, okay, I kind of made a Sarah Pike mug, you know, but Sarah Pike is Sarah Pike. I don't want to be Sarah Pike. So, you know, you do that to kind of get, get down a technique, and then you have to take it to the next level, I suppose. But I mean, that's the struggle, I think.
00:14:40
Speaker
for me. I definitely agree with that because I think we all start out copying and then we're trying to figure out our own little way of doing things and then once we find it, that's when it becomes our own voice. Right, exactly. Can you tell me, in your opinion, what does it mean to find your voice with your pottery? Well, I think it goes back to when you asked, how did I know when I found
00:15:07
Speaker
my voice, it's when the vision you have on the inside, it comes true in real life. It resonates, you feel that feeling of like, that's what I meant to do. That's exactly it. And not only that, it resonates for you, but people respond to it in a positive way. And it gives you that feedback. It's a feedback loop of feeling like, whoa,
00:15:35
Speaker
They heard me, they heard what I wanted to say, and they're telling me that it's good, that they want to see more. And then it's like all those things lining up, you know, your inside vision, your creation, and then how it's received in the world, you know, once you put it out there. Definitely, 100%. Can you tell me what is something you are currently experimenting with to push your voice even further?
Experimentation and Mastery
00:16:05
Speaker
There's a few things I currently trying a bunch of different clay bodies because I'm kind of bored. I think boredom is like the kiss of death. So I'm kind of bored with the clay body I've been using for a couple of years. So I'm trying new clay bodies. I want to try some porcelain because I want to get some translucency. And then I want to try more like a, a quilting technique of, you know, layering on and then
00:16:34
Speaker
stamping as well and then there will be underglazes too because I have to add color so there's a quilter that I Follow on Instagram and I just I love her work so much. So I'm gonna try to you know, take that and and Translate it to clay Now you mentioned boredom is the kiss of death What do you do? What do you do to prevent the boredom coming in? Oh, yeah. Well one thing is
00:17:03
Speaker
I think that's a really great thing to do is try a form that you've never tried before. So during the beginning of the pandemic, I couldn't stop myself from making mugs. My body, my mind, everything just wanted to make mugs over and over and over again. And I think it was kind of like my comfort food. We were all going through so much and it was just very comforting to make that.
00:17:32
Speaker
It got it got old, you know, so challenging yourself to make something that you've never done, never made before a form that you've never made before, like go bigger if you've never gone big. You know, that's some other stuff that I want to do because I have been pushing myself to make bigger forms, but.
00:17:50
Speaker
I'm really interested in making non-functional stuff like mirrors using my voice, but mirrors, plaques, different things that aren't functional because I've never done that. I think that's a really good way to get past the boredom.
00:18:06
Speaker
Absolutely. Shaping Nation, if you are getting bored with your current work, try pushing yourself and challenging yourself with your work. Go make something new. Go make something you've never made before and just really push yourself with your work. You're going to get that boredom out of the way and you're going to be able to be refreshed when you come back. Definitely. What advice would you give to someone trying to discover their own unique voice with their pottery? I think for me, the thing that helped
00:18:32
Speaker
substantially is that I committed to a regular studio practice. And I'm, I'm definitely lucky enough to have my own studio, but it didn't all come together at once, you know, I would get a wheel, we got a wheel off of Craigslist, we got a pretty crappy kiln off of Craigslist, too. And then I invested in a, a slab roller years later, you know, little by little, I've created a studio. But
00:19:00
Speaker
I, even in the early days, you know, my kids would go to school. I'd go out to the studio, you know, even though I barely knew what I was doing, I had clay and I had, you know, a wheel and then a slab roller. And I would just go out there and try to commit to being out there a few hours a day and just, you know, playing and seeing, seeing what develops, you know, it's not like you're going to make a masterpiece.
00:19:27
Speaker
Right away. The other thing I would say is to find like a way of whatever technique you want to use for forming like wheel throwing, slab building, pinching, coiling, find something like that and get really good at one of them. Like once you maybe you've tried all of them and you're like, Oh, I really love coil building. Try that and just try to do that for, you know, six months and see where it takes you.
00:19:54
Speaker
Or if you love wheel throwing, if you've gotten really good at it, try a surface technique that you've never used and see where that might take you as well. You know, there's so many different ways that clay can be made into something beautiful. And I think you just have to commit to studio practice and then within that, commit to really getting good at
00:20:22
Speaker
one building technique, and then move on to surface decoration. Absolutely, Grease Shaping
Conclusion and Contact Information
00:20:30
Speaker
Nation. It's important to get into the studio, try to get into the studio daily if you can. 10 minutes is really all it takes. Make time to play, but also focus in on one pottery technique and get really good at that before you start expanding outward. Yeah, definitely. Now, as we're coming to a close here,
00:20:49
Speaker
What is one thing you wanna hammer home with my audience today? Well, that I guess we all have a creative voice inside of us, you know? And I think Elizabeth Gilbert calls it like a gem inside of us. And it's just a matter of like mining it out. And I think the more you play and explore new techniques, the more you're gonna uncover that gem, you're gonna, and it's gonna,
00:21:16
Speaker
Everyone, I think the world is going to be ready to receive it. You know, you have to think that too, that you have something special to share with the world, you know. Absolutely. Great advice today, Amy. It was really great chatting today. Where can my audience go and learn more about you? I am at Pine Zen Pottery on Instagram and Facebook. And then I also have my own website, www.pinezenpottery.com.
00:21:46
Speaker
Thanks for listening to this episode of Shaping Your Pottery with Nick Torres. If you want to start discovering your own unique voice, you must first start with the right questions. That's why I put together a free 15 question booklet for you to start discovering your own unique pottery voice. All you have to do is go to shapingyourpottery.com forward slash questions to get this free booklet.