Jessica T-Lee opened her Etsy shop relatively recently, and I was enthused to come across her work. She is a sweet person, very down-to-earth, and my interview with her was really worth it. Read on to find out for yourselves!
Have you received professional training as an artist?
I went to the University of Kansas and majored in ceramics and art history, so I received all my professional training from there. I also spent a semester at an art college in Florence, Italy which is where I actually fell in love with ceramics first!
What are the things that inspire you?
I am inspired by nature and urban textures-two things that seemingly would never compliment each other aesthetically. For my sculptures, I have studied mainly cave and rock formations, although many people see sea forms in my work (coral, etc...) For my functional work in which I focus more on the texture, I look at graffiti and prehistoric art. I have numerous pictures of graffiti which I have taken both in the United States and in Europe. With these functional pieces, I have combined an organic form with a rough graffiti inspired surface.
What is your favorite medium?
My favorite medium is ceramics. I love clay, and I love it in all the different stages: the wet unfired stage, the bisqued stage, and the glazed stage. I also love that artists and craftsmen have been using clay since prehistoric times to create all kinds of things- pottery, sculpture, etc... I feel as though I can do anything with clay. It also seems to be the medium most connected with earth and nature. I have even gone out into the countryside and actually dug up clay to use.
What are you working on at the moment?
At the moment I am working on more organic forms. I am constantly looking at different formations in nature as inspiration, and I like to see how that translates into my work. I will just sit and carve for hours and hours.
How do you spend your free time?
My free time mainly consists of art. Not only do I do ceramics but I am a painter and an illustrator. In fact, I am attempting to write and illustrate a children's book. However, I need a healthy balance in my life of art related activities and non-art related activities so my life as well is filled with cooking, reading, exploring, and of course my friends and family. :)
I love Jessica's work, and wish all the best for her in the future. She is a genuine artist.
Many thank to both of you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteFabulous feature!
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