Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Sanders.
Jessica, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I took an art appreciation class in college and loved the professor so much that I took a drawing class with him, then that lead to a painting class, and then I was hooked! I ended up going for a Masters in Fine Art and am now pursuing a life as a working artist. During college, I fell in love with clay and the whole ceramic process. I went to a conference called NCECA (National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts) which is a huge conference that takes place every year in different parts of the country. Thousand of ceramicists come together for it. I was so blow away by what you can do with the material! And since have been very interested in ways to push the medium forward. I have a studio in my garage where I make, a studio with a friend downtown where I have hang, photograph and sit with my work, and I’ve been teaching for the last two years.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I think I’m very fortunate in that I’ve found work that I love and that I feel fulfillment in. Also, that I have such a supportive family; so many people don’t have that, especially when they are choosing more creative careers. But being an artists is difficult. At times it has financially been pretty stressful, and it doesn’t come with a clear path. It’s all about networking and who you know. I’ve had a lot of great opportunities, but it’s still been pretty hard to get my foot in the door.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I create ceramic sculptures. I make small pieces that I attach together with wire that make flexible sheets. All the small pieces I make are geometric shapes, so triangles, squares, circles, etc., that I stack. So, I’m basically making flexible tessellations. My work gets compared to quilts a lot, which I think is a fun comparison. I have a lot of quilters in my family history, and I love the idea of continuing that family legacy but in a different and more contemporary way.
The use of clay is important to me in my work. I just love the process and the community that comes along with it! I am also really intrigued by the concept of vitrification. Clay starts out as this malleable substance that can be formed into something; then when fired, it becomes that thing. It is stone and unchangeable; the closest thing you can do to reform it is to break it. Knowing that I am even more interested in these vitrified pieces I have made that I have now found a way to make moveable again.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
For me personally, being successful is having a life that you enjoy. You can be successful no matter where you live or what kind of job you have as long as you are surrounded by people you love and have the necessities met.
Contact Info:
- Website: jessicalsandersart.com
- Instagram: jessicalsandersart
- Other: https://www.artworkarchive.com/profile/jessica-sanders
