Let's learn a little more about Megan of Kogi's Custom Clay.
Tell us a little about the items in your shop. What do you make?
I make functional ceramics that are highly decorated and colorful. I say that I hate glazing with wild abandon but I seem to do quite a bit of it. Most of my work is now low fired ceramics but I still use High fire for my custom pieces. The custom pieces are usually mugs though they can be anything like an urn, bowl, plate, etc. I love the mug form and usually go back to it for starting any line.
What is your creative process?
I think the greatest struggle is finding out what I am trying to say with my pieces. I love painting (oils) and printmaking (linoleum block) and both of these loves are blended to form my work. The color layering have gone through a seemingly endless series of tests to arrive at the palate I have chosen for a line. Then there is the design of the paintings themselves and the carving I will end with before bisquing the piece. Then the stages that I layer the glazes must be tried. Hopefully my experiments net successful results though in the beginning of a new direction they end up bad, bad, bad...LOL
For my custom pieces I have the client send me as many images as they can then I select from these to form an interesting visual design. I think the scariest part of any custom design is right before I sit down to carve. It’s a sort of blank page where I freeze just a bit.
Which Etsy Teams do you belong to?
Team BPAL and that’s about it. My more that antiquated tech knowledge makes me a bit slow to keep up with trends...LOL After all, I’m working in a 13 century medium.
When you are not creating things, what do you do?
Um.....I am always at the studio and when I am not I am snoozing and online. Seriously, there are some days that I would stay all night except they won’t let me in the building from 1am-5am.
Tell us two random, interesting things about you.
1) I always wear overalls. I am kinda known for them. No waistband, they hold lots of stuff, and I can wipe my clay covered hands on them with no worries.
2) I was diagnosed with relapsing remitting MS a year ago.
What has been your proudest moment since opening your Etsy shop?
Having repeat buyers. I love it when someone a year or so later comes back for another custom item. It is so very gratifying!
What advice would you give to artists who are new to Etsy?
Re-list a few of your items every week to keep people searching that main category aware of your shop. That has been the greatest help for me.
What handmade possession do you cherish?
Oh they are all pots of course...LOL! I think my most cherished item is a hand built cup from the Israeli desert that is 6,000 years old yet still has the fingerprint of the maker.
If you could have any item on Etsy regardless of price, what would it be?
Oh I am not sure. I don’t let myself look because I do not let myself buy.
What other skill or talent do you wish you could possess, if you had not taken this creative path?
That’s a hard one. Probably painting or print making? I am very satisfied being a potter though so have no regrets.
Where can we find you on the web?
Website: meganratchford.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kogijiki
Thanks for the interview, Megan! Have a great weekend, everyone! Our amber-themed team challenge is up next, and we'll return in two weeks with another spotlight.
Thank you Alicia, looks wonderful! :D
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