Meet Esther Smith | Ceramic Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Esther Smith and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Esther, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
Many people who have not tried ceramics with their own hands often don’t realize the amount of technical skill and effort that it takes to create something-whether a large sculpture or the smallest cup. Even more, there is quite a bit of science involved in the process, especially in regards to the firing of the work and the glaze composition. The transformation of earth into a durable, functional, and beautiful object is quite an amazing thing. Depending on what you’re making, you must choose a temperature range for firing, and a clay body that works within that. When you have decided upon those things, you need glazes that will be compatible.  For my work, it took a long time to test glazes and find what works best for the clay and firing temperature. I wanted the clay and glaze to have what we say is a good “fit”-meaning they contract and expand at similar rates, resulting in a very durable finished piece.
There are many opportunities for things to take a wrong turn during the process. When you get through all those hoops unscathed and have a creation that is both functional and beautiful, it is certainly something to celebrate, in my opinion.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
In my work, I hope to convey a sense of awe and appreciation for the natural world. While I do not usually reference things from nature in a literal or direct way, I aim to infuse my work with a feeling, a sense-similar to what you might find in nature. Whether it is a pattern, a form, a texture, or a particular color-the work is my experience of the natural world-filtered through me, bringing forth something new in ceramic form. I hope to create unique pieces that will become a meaningful part of people’s lives.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well, being the nature lover that I am, I would probably fill a lot of the time outdoors. Mountain trails such as Aspen Vista or Winsor, a jaunt to the Galisteo Basin, or a trip to Abiquiu would be on the list. As far as the city goes, there’s no lack of things to do or see! From Museum Hill to Canyon Road to the Plaza and the Railyard…and of course you need chocolate-Kakawa will not disappoint.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people and wonderful places that have helped me on my path. The community at Lincoln Square Pottery Studio Learning Center in Chicago was welcoming and supportive-a great place to explore working in clay. It is also there that I met my husband, Erik, who has always loved and encouraged me as I navigate the ups and downs of being a self-employed artist. After we relocated to Santa Fe, NM, in 2011, we both began taking classes at the Santa Fe Community College. I landed in a place that was overflowing with opportunity to explore, enhanced with talented instructors, skillful fellow students, and fantastic facilities. This environment allowed me to try out many ways of working in clay in order to figure out my own aesthetic. I owe a lot to the mentorship of James Marshall and Craig Donalson. Craig teaches a glaze formulation class, which I took repeatedly, gaining the knowledge and experience for me to go on and develop my own glazes, which is an important part of what makes my work unique.

Website: www.influxceramics.com

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