For me, art has always been about more than just creating something visually appealing. It’s about telling a story, capturing a feeling, and sharing a piece of myself with the world. Whether I’m working with pottery, sculpture, or painting, the process of creating is just as important as the final piece. Each step carries its own lessons, surprises, and moments of inspiration, and I’ve come to see every artwork as a journey—both for me and for those who experience it.

Starting with an Idea

Every piece I create begins with a spark—sometimes it’s a memory, sometimes a feeling, and sometimes it’s something I see in the world around me. I keep a sketchbook where I jot down ideas, doodle shapes, and experiment with textures. These pages are messy and unpolished, but they’re invaluable because they capture the raw beginnings of a story I want to tell.

When I move from a sketch to actual creation, I try not to overthink it. I let the materials guide me. Clay, for instance, has its own personality. It can be soft and yielding one moment and stubborn the next. Learning to respond to the clay, rather than forcing it, is an important part of my process. The same goes for painting and sculpture—sometimes the brush or chisel leads me in directions I didn’t plan, and those unplanned turns often become the most meaningful parts of the piece.

Letting Materials Speak

I’ve always believed that materials have their own stories to tell. Pottery can show the passage of time through cracks or glaze variations. Sculpture can capture movement and emotion in a way that words can’t. Painting can layer color, texture, and form to evoke memory and mood. When I work, I try to listen to what the material wants, rather than imposing my ideas on it entirely.

This dialogue between artist and medium is where storytelling begins. A bowl with subtle grooves might reflect the rhythms of daily life. A sculpture with jagged edges might represent struggle and resilience. A painting with flowing layers of color might convey emotion or memory. By paying attention to these small details, I allow the work to communicate beyond what I consciously intend.

Embracing Mistakes

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned in my artistic journey is that mistakes are not failures—they’re part of the story. Clay cracking in the kiln, a brushstroke running unexpectedly, or a sculpture toppling mid-process can feel frustrating in the moment, but often these “mistakes” lead to breakthroughs.

I’ve had pieces that began as accidents turn into some of my favorites. Embracing imperfections allows me to create work that feels alive and authentic. It reminds me that storytelling is messy, just like life, and that the unexpected moments often carry the most meaning.

Layering Emotion and Experience

My work is deeply personal, even when it draws inspiration from universal themes. I try to weave my own experiences, emotions, and memories into every piece. In pottery, that might mean shaping a bowl that feels comforting or grounding. In sculpture, it might mean creating forms that capture movement or tension. In painting, I experiment with color and texture to evoke mood.

This layering of emotion and experience is what allows the viewer to connect with the piece. When someone holds a cup I’ve shaped, or gazes at a sculpture, or steps back to look at a painting, I hope they feel something real. It doesn’t have to be the exact story I had in mind—it might be their own story—but the connection is what makes the work meaningful.

Sharing the Journey

Storytelling in art doesn’t end when a piece is finished. Part of the joy of being an artist is sharing the process with others. I love talking about the journey behind a piece—what inspired it, what challenges I faced, and how it evolved from an idea into a physical form. Sharing these stories adds depth and context, allowing others to see the layers that might not be immediately visible.

I also enjoy involving communities in my work. Whether it’s workshops, exhibitions, or collaborative projects, sharing the creative process invites others into the story. Watching someone respond to a piece or hearing how a work connects with their life reminds me why I create in the first place.

The Never-Ending Story

The beauty of art is that the story never truly ends. Each piece I create carries a beginning, middle, and end, but it also continues to evolve as people experience it. What might start as a personal expression can grow into something that resonates far beyond me. And every new project brings the opportunity to start a new story—different materials, different techniques, different emotions.

Being an artist is, in many ways, being a storyteller without words. Through clay, paint, and sculpture, I explore, experiment, and share pieces of life, emotion, and experience. Each creation is a chapter, each texture a sentence, each form a word. And just like any good story, it’s meant to be felt, experienced, and remembered.

Art has given me a voice, a way to communicate when words aren’t enough, and a platform to connect with others. My hope is that anyone who encounters my work feels invited into that story, and maybe finds a piece of their own story reflected back. Because in the end, that’s what art and storytelling is all about.