Today we’d like to introduce you to Paula Kelley.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My mother died suddenly in August of 2016 which led me on a new path of self-discovery and exploration. Searching for the thing I lost led me to clay as a way to relax my brain and put me in the here and now. My hands had discovered the thing they needed to feel, which helped me find the means to move past trauma and on to healing. Today I work with clay full time, always in learning mode and full on experimentation in my practice and always enjoying the moment.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Ceramics is a study in patience. It’s a long, arduous process and the outcome is always a mystery. Having to learn patience has been the most difficult part of ceramics. Clay and glazes force a natural slowdown and require you to wait it out. Many times there are failures and those failures give me the nudge to try harder and be more patient.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My sculpture work is otherworldly seeming to have crawled or been ejected from the earth and seas, objects you may find while beach combing or even walking through ancient deserts that were once covered with vast oceans. My voice has taken shape in the form of ceramics, evolving as I learn more about myself and our amazing planet. I create unique over-the-top wearable pieces (rings, neck pieces) that allow the user to connect directly with clay and is a very unique experience, one that’s super enjoyable. My sculpture work is a visual and tactile experience that is meant to center the viewer and transport them to the now and hopefully create a positive suggestion to protect our planet.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Being true and honest to myself is the most important thing because it allows my voice to be more clear and understood.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.Paulajkelley.com
- Instagram: @clayslapper @paulajkelley
Image Credits
Tess Cunliffe
