MARISSA MCFADDEN
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I never considered that I could be an artist, until I found pottery two years ago. Fast forward two years, and being a potter and artist has become an integral part of my identity. I developed a foundation at the University of Vermont Pottery Cooperative, which is where I took my very first, and only, pottery class in July of 2019. It was a love-at-first-sight experience and after I left class on that first day, I knew I wanted to make pots for the rest of my life. With the exception of that one pottery class, I am more-or-less a self-taught potter.
For the next 7 months-- in conjunction with and following that very first class-- I spent hours at the UVM co-op wrestling with clay, learning to center, flopping and trimming through pieces. With time and too many balls of clay to count, I started getting things right too. When the pandemic hit, this practice came to a halt. During this hiatus, I did my best to learn and keep-up on my skills by reading many books and watching countless videos-- I watched what other people were doing in an attempt to build new, and maintain old muscle memory. During the pandemic’s most uncertain days, thinking of pottery was a comfort that I looked forward to getting back to. After a few months of thinking and researching, I knew that pottery was both something that I wanted to pursue as an artist, and then eventually, as a small business venture. Now, it’s been nearly a year since I’ve had the privilege of a small studio in my basement-- which is where I create every single piece and continue to learn about making pottery. I take inspiration from the mountainous scenery surrounding my home, shared with my partner, Brandon and Chocolate Lab, Walter in Belvidere, Vermont. I use that inspiration to create pieces with form and function on the wheel, as well as, through carving and glazing. I enjoy exploring this art form and integrating learned techniques along with new inspiration every day. I often make collections of mugs, tumblers, bowls of various types, pitchers, spoon rests, sponge holders, planters, jewelry dishes, candles/ candle luminaries, coasters and ornaments. I also dabble in making lidded jars/ forms, flower vases, and whatever else I might be compelled to create! All work is microwave, dishwasher, and food safe (unless otherwise indicated). Pottery requires persistence, stubbornness, and resiliency-- and I think that these are three words that describe my personality pretty well. It can also be a relentless, infuriating, and volatile process at times-- pieces break (all the time), glazes run, things might not turn out as expected. What I value most about this is that despite all of this, clay can be forgiving, it can be recycled, mistakes are usually easy to learn from, and clay is often more rewarding than not. It is gratifying to make art out of my comfort zone, it is mindful to be creative, and there is something so joy-filled about sharing all of this with people who like my art and who are willing to listen to me share about why I love pottery. Clay will always give me more than it takes from me-- and that is the concept that I cherish most about this art form. Etsy Store: ClayfullSoulCeramics Instagram: @clayfullsoulceramics 
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