Today we’d like to introduce you to Sadie Joy Muhlestein.
Hi Sadie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
As early as I can remember, I’ve had my hands in some form of art, I’ve tried the whole spectrum of mediums. It wasn’t till I was in my 40s and my daughters got into ceramics that we thought it would be a good investment to find equipment so they could create from home and not have to drive so far to take classes. Little did I know that I would be so passionate about clay.
It felt like coming home to my deepest creative self. I think in part it’s the complexity and intentionality of the process of creating ceramics. It’s a little creative journey of the soul from start to finish. It’s such a grounding and transformative medium.
To take something like earth and through a little creative mind power and the wielding of the elements you transmute this lump of soft earth into a thing of durability. I want my pieces to feel joyful and full of whimsy and touch on the love I have for the natural world and storytelling.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s been a smooth process because I have approached pottery with an attitude of joy and curiosity. I have been in deep fascination with the endless possibilities that working with clay affords me. I don’t get hung up on the mishaps and failings – those come with everything. I may have momentary disappointments, but a lot of insight can be gleaned especially from those less perfect experiences.
I file the lessons from both the successes and failures into my collective experience and keep moving forward, challenging myself, and seeing what new and interesting thing comes up in the process.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I think my background in illustration using watercolors is what has translated the best into my pottery. I love complex designs, symbolism and storytelling, even if it’s a little obscure. I love using an absurd amount of color, I feel like pieces are incomplete if there are only a handful of colors used.
It takes a lot of time to create each piece, but it feels the most genuine for me to make art that way. I want my work to feel like a big piece of my heart is living in each piece so when I send it out into the world I know I sent it out with a lot of intention and heart. It feels like blowing a kiss to each person who buys my work.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @wildjoypotteryandart
Image Credits
Ashley Thalman
