INSIDE THE MIND OF CERAMICIST MEGAN SUTTON
Editorial, Profile and photography by Georgia Thompson.
Acknowledgements I would like to acknowledge and warmly thank the extraordinary ceramicist herself, Megan Sutton who allowed me to come into her space and explore the mind behind pottery. I would have not been able to create this editorial without the help and support of Megan, and my friends and family. A warm thank you to the printers who were able to make this book become a reality, and to my mentors for the strong advice and help along the way.
Inside the mind of a ceramicist
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Having grown up with a creative eye in an environment that allowed her to celebrate with craft and design, Megan believes that her calling as a ceramic and pottery artist wasn’t a choice - it was always there, waiting to be discovered. What Megan creates is simply an extension of who she is and how she perceives herself in a given moment. If she is determined, her work will reflect that, if she is in love, her work will give that away. If her mind is in harmony and creativity, that is when the most magical creations come out. The pieces she creates reflect who she is as an individual and an artist, and engraves that into all of her work. Born in Australia, Megan lives and works in Sydney, crafting ceramics, recycling paper, and creating anything her mood encourages. After focusing on creating her own clothes, and repurposing old materials from second hand stores, Megan has evolved her practice into creating plates, bowls, cups and beautiful pieces. Her ceramics are characterised by endearing imperfections and misshapen forms in which Megan believes enhances the beauty within them. To discover the mind behind Megan and her pottery, I visited her studio and observed her during her creative practice and identified the process behind ceramics.
Inside Megan Sutton’s creative studio
The story behind the ceramicist. Could you tell us more about your story and how you got to the place where you are now? “I have dabbled and experimented in a few different areas over the years and have been revisiting some of them lately. I have also been playing with paper making as a way of reusing, recycling and incorporating leaves and flowers from my garden or found on the ground while walking. These activities have also opened up another creative outlet in abstract watercolor painting and collage.” What led you into working with ceramics? Are you selftaught or have you learned it from someone else? “Initially I wanted to create a few pieces to use at home. I have a large collection of preloved and vintage ceramics and homewares and wanted to expand and add my own ideas and individuality in my pieces. I did a class many years ago, so I have had some input but since then my education has been through trial and error.”
Within the creative space of Megan Sutton, where she endulges in all of her inspiration to begin creating.
Creative Expression Where do you find inspiration? “Actually everywhere. It could be an image from an old book or from a beautiful patina from flaking paint or a rusty tin, or from a peeling bark on a gum tree to squashed flower petals on the ground. These things find me and feed my imagination.”
Do you have a dream project that you would love to release someday? “My dream would be to create a studio on a patch of land with an adjoining greenhouse. I would love to explore more sculptural pieces on a larger scale in terms of size and scale.”
The style “Wabi-Sabi” How would you define the style of your work and where and how did it develop? “I would say that my style is quite simplistic as well as very organic. I embrace the process. I love the aesthetic and follow the concept “wabi-sabi”, referring to the beauty found in unbalanced, asymmetrical and uneven things. It is also the appreciation and acceptance of the imperfect, the impermanent and incomplete.”
Have you come from a creative background? How did your family and the place that you come from shape you? “I think I have always been creative at heart. I’ve studied many aspects including fashion and interior design as well as repurposing fabrics and further went into pottery and ceramics, paper making and recycling, dressmaking and sewing as well as watercolour mess making.”
The process What is on your mind when you are shaping the object? “I will usually have an idea of the piece I want. They are always simple in form and will include some imperfections, whether it be an accidental lump or an unevenness, this to me is the beauty of the process.” How did you develop your own style and does it change with time? “I wouldn’t say I have intentionally developed a particular style. I think it’s a form of creative expression for me. The appreciation of the elements of design seen freely in nature in terms of colour, pattern, light and texture are undoubtedly my biggest influence.” What materials fascinate you the most and are there any that you have not worked with but would like to try out? “I would love to one day work either naturally sourced clay to experiment with a different consistency and composition.”
To the final product Does the finished product always turn out the way you expected? “Not at all. Which I believe is what makes pottery quite magical. Not knowing what the final product will turn out like rather adds more character to the piece. Every piece has its own individual personality, and every change throughout the process adds to that. All imperfections and uneven touches are beautiful.”
After the process of pottery and creating ceramic pieces, quite often the end product does not turn out the way it was anticipated. Megan believes this is the beauty of the process in which she chooses to embrace. Each piece is made with love and warmth and each bit of imperfection made along the way is beautiful and adds personality to each and every individual piece.
What goes on inside a studio? what goes on inside the mind of a ceramicist? Exploring the mind of ceramicist Megan Sutton we uncover the story behind her creative process.
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Published by Georgia Thompson.