I have been making ceramics for about 3 years and after the 2 year mark when my technique improved to a solid level, I felt compelled to create a more cohesive portfolio of work that could stand together and separately.
While I now believe that my insatiable appetite to try every pottery technique is probably the major barrier keeping me from finding my signature style in pottery, the below actions helped me narrow down and manage the styles available to me.
Create a Mood Board
Whether on Pinterest or a physical display, a mood board, or vision board, will allow you to compile styles, colours, and forms that speak to you. And while it’s helpful to have some ceramics on your board, diversify and draw inspiration from outside of the pottery world. Textiles, home decor, fashion, and other art forms will undoubtedly contain inspiration that you can apply to your pottery.. which also makes you think more creatively when you’re pulling ideas into a completely different art form.
Gathering Materials for a 3D Moodboard
If you’re a more tactile person (what potter isn’t?) and want to create a physical moodboard, I have a great green hack for gathering magazines.
- Join your local community group, or “Buy Nothing” group on facebook or in the NextDoor app and ask your neighbours for old magazines. I ended up getting so many messages offering free magazines, that I had to borrow someones car because I couldn’t carry them all on my bike. This is a great way to upcycle existing materials and spend minimal cash.
Steal Like an Artist
Austin Kleon said it best in his book Steal Like an Artist. When finding your style, you need to try out different techniques and styles. Accumulate a selection of artists who’s work really speaks to you and try to recreate their work while also adding your flair. Disclaimer: You should not be replicating someone else’s work with the intention to sell it. This is some seriously bad juju and an artist you admire will surely not appreciate your artistic plagiarism. I can also promise you that it will not go unnoticed by the ceramics community.
For more inspiration and best practices on being an honourable thief, check out Kleon’s book.
For suggestions on great artists to draw inspiration from, check out our article on Best Instagram Accounts to Follow for New Potters.
Experiment with Different Techniques
In the spirit of trying new things to find your signature style, I recommend trying as many techniques as humanly possible and figure out what gets your wheel turning (pun EXTREMELY intended). That being said, there are an ungodly number of pottery techniques for every stage of the process. Some actions you can take to narrow it down include:
- Look around at the tools and materials you already have available to you. There’s probably over a dozen uses for very tool in your studio
- Refer back to your mood board. Are there similarities to the designs, textures, forms or colours? If so, it would be worth exploring these styles. From here, do some research and figure out what tools you need to achieve that look.
Observe Your Surroundings
Perhaps unbeknownst to you, you might already have a signature style but before you were making, it came in the form of your home preferences. If you already own any kind of home decor, you probably have a good idea of some of the styles you prefer.
I have a personal motto that if I make something that I don’t want to display in my own home, it’s not a style I want to continue to pursue.
Enjoy the Process and Manage Your Expectations
Finding a signature style takes times and as you evolve as a potter, so will your style.
Be okay with making unsuccessful pieces, with making mistakes while making that destroys a piece you’ve been working on for a week (been there. Many times.) and with making a plethora of pieces that may not sit well together as a set but that will allow you to continue to hone your skills. Some of my favourite potters are always experimenting with different styles and this is what makes their work interesting, dynamic and extremely skilled. I’m obviously talking about Michelle Wen. You guys know she’s my fave.
