Studio Chats: Teresa Taylor
After sharing her pottery studio with the lawn mower for a long time, Teresa finally has a space of her own to throw ceramic pieces on her pottery wheel and fire them ready for homes across Aotearoa.
The Maker’s Story’s new Studio Chats series gives a glimpse into artists’ workspaces.
When did your passion for art begin?
I have always been fascinated by art and as a child I always wanted to touch the pieces, trying to understand how the artist created what they did. Art at school was my favourite subject by far.
Fabric was my first love, and for as long as I can remember I have always loved searching for just the right silk or wool for a garment – I still enjoy the world of textiles.
Were you always creative growing up?
Definitely – I was always gathering supplies to embark on a new project, and for years I subscribed to a printed creative publication, and I waited with anticipation for it to arrive in the post each month! I grew up in a little town in Taranaki and I think I solely kept the local fabric and art supply store in business.
It took you a bit to get going with ceramics, buying a secondhand kiln to only sell it years later, and then finding that passion again in 2020 – can you share this journey of finding that creative spark to be making the way you are today?
Pottery had always been on my creative bucket list, and I had been collecting ideas for creating with clay for a long time. I saw a secondhand kiln advertised many years ago and decided to jump in and buy it. The problem, though, was being a full-time mum to our four young children – unsurprisingly, I never had the time to dedicate to ceramics. The kiln and all its paraphernalia took up a large space in our garage and sadly was never fired. Eventually I decided it should go and be used by a potter rather than just sit unused.
My desire to learn to create with clay never waned, so years later I enrolled in a pottery hand-building class, then moved onto throwing classes. I never looked back. When a Covid lockdown was imminent and my classes were having to stop, I quickly turned our garden shed into a studio and purchased a potter’s wheel. I shared the studio with the lawn mower for a long time, until eventually I moved it out to make way for a new kiln!
“Once I’m playing with clay it’s impossible to not be completely focused – pottery is a form of meditation for me. It’s what I look forward to every day.”
What inspires your pieces?
The clay itself inspires my pieces. When I work with a buttery white porcelain, I’m inspired to create hand-build finer pieces; if I’m using a buff speckled clay, I’ll tend to throw it on the wheel into functional pieces that when fired, gorgeous iron speckles show through. Or if it’s a heavy groggy clay I’m working with, I’ll carve and shape Japanese Yunomi teacups.
How does each piece come to life?
I tend to imagine the piece finished and work backwards. From measuring a lump of clay to forming it, to then deciding how to decorate it – often, I only have a rough concept idea of what the piece will look like. There are so many variables along the way, I love to let pieces evolve. I do have pieces that I make using the same weight of clay, and they’ll measure approximately the same height, diameter, etc. once thrown, but I’m not a ‘matchy-matchy’ potter – so while I do make pieces that belong to a series, they will always have differences.
Do you have any mentors in the art space?
Kara Leigh Ford from Kara Leigh Ford Ceramics in Somerset, UK, is my greatest mentor. I have learnt so much from Kara. She has a pottery club, and I joined a long time ago and still learn new tips and tricks today from Kara and other club members.
In New Zealand I am fortunate to be surrounded by incredible potters at Auckland Studio Potters, from classes to workshops – I have been inspired by some very talented artists.
“Often, I only have a rough concept idea of what the piece will look like. There are so many variables along the way, I love to let pieces evolve.”
What challenges do you find artists face today?
One of the biggest challenges I am aware of is justifying the value in handmade versus production pieces. The artist has typically poured a great deal of time and creative skills into making their art, but equating those resources into a fair value can be difficult for some to appreciate.
What’s been your highlight as a clay artist in Aotearoa?
Finding my ‘thing’. I can turn to pottery anytime and once I’m playing with clay it’s impossible to not be completely focused – pottery is a form of meditation for me. It’s what I look forward to every day. Being a part of the clay community in Aotearoa has been amazing; we are fortunate to have so many talented artists who are generous with their knowledge, and always so supportive of all potters.
What’s next for you?
I’m excited to further grow my pottery community with Teresamaree Clay, both in person and online. It’s been an honour having my pieces stocked in beautiful stores all over New Zealand as well as the support from my loyal followers.
I’m currently working on making my own glaze range which involves a lot of chemicals and science terms, plus a myriad of test tiles to master that perfect colour! And, there is always another workshop to attend, a new skill to refine or kiln firing to master. I am currently mentoring a new potter which is so rewarding, and I hope to continue sharing.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
I’ve met so many people who say they would love to learn ceramics and every time I encourage them to give it a go. There is a nook in the pottery world for everyone. The community is big-hearted, and we love to share our knowledge and watch others learn the craft, too. Some great advice passed onto me was you must practise, practise, practise; and don’t fall in love with a pot until it’s made it through the entire pottery process.
Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand
