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Greenwich House

July 24, 2009

Peas Please: A Potter Talks About the Inspiration and Process Behind her “Sweet Pea” Vessels

by Kim Westad Read Comments (19)

Ceramic artist Kim Westad started out her career as a graphic designer, but soon realized that she didn’t want to sit at a computer all day. Following the suggestion of a friend she decided to take a pottery class. And, as she puts it, “it didn’t take long for me to realize that working with clay was what had been missing from my creative life.” Eventually, she left her steady paycheck behind and took the plunge into pottery full time. In today’s video, Kim talks about the inspiration behind her work and takes us through the process of making one of her signature forms: the Sweet Pea. - Jennifer Harnetty, editor

 

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Do you like hearing about process and inspiration straight from the potter’s mouth? Then check out Collaboration: The Ceramic Art of Tom Coleman and Frank Boyden in the Ceramic Arts Daily Bookstore.

 

To see more images of Kim Westad’s work or to purchase, visit her Etsy shop. Learn more about Kim at www.kimwestad.com.

 

 

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19 Comments

  1. Mary | July 24th, 2009 at 10:09 am

    Interesting video, and while we watch her making a sweet pea piece, she doesn’t actually explain the process or talk about the type of slip she is using.

  2. William | July 24th, 2009 at 10:23 am

    I agree, a very interesting video and the pieces are fun and inventive. I would have like to know the slip used and some of the processes that she goes through. All in all a nice product.

  3. Pauline | July 24th, 2009 at 10:23 am

    Thank you, I enjoyed watching the video.

  4. Dawn | July 24th, 2009 at 10:39 am

    Great presentation….easy to watch, almost gentle. I couldn’t decipher whether the ’slip dots’ were added to a bisque pot or, if the pot was lined with a coloured slip or glaze. Perhaps the ‘dots’ were glaze spots.

    Thank you regardless. Dawn

  5. Karen | July 24th, 2009 at 10:54 am

    Wow - I so relate to you in so many levels, love your work.
    Thanks for the video!
    Sincerely~ Karen

  6. Gabriela | July 24th, 2009 at 2:39 pm

    It’s a beautiful work, so sorry, my english is bad!!! one question: the decoration, is paint(esmalte) or clay (barbotina)? I’m sorry, I don’t know say that!!! Thanks for the video!!!
    Gabriela, to Uruguay, South America.

  7. Dale | July 24th, 2009 at 2:48 pm

    Thanks for sharing your techniques and feeling about being a potter. After many years as a computer graphic artist and draftsman, pottery is the greatest tactile experience next to human physical contact. It allow me to expression in form and spacial design which was not possible on the CRT or paper. I’m grateful to you and all artist who share their techniques which help me understand and learn this great profession/hobby.

  8. Kim | July 24th, 2009 at 2:56 pm

    thanks so much everyone for your kind words! The video was produced by Etsy as part of their “this handmade life” series which illustrates the overall processes of working artists. The intent was to provide a documentary style glimpse of a working artist for a broad audience who wouldn’t necessarily be familiar with how pottery is made.

    I made the slip using the same Laguna cone 6 porcelain that I throw with and the dots were added to greenware. The interior color is underglaze.

    cheers,
    kim

  9. Sue | July 24th, 2009 at 4:12 pm

    So, the white dots are porcelain slip, the same that is used to build the vessel, and added to the ‘raw” greenware stage and then fired. YES?

    And, on the vase you have in your webstore, the one with the blue dots, this was colored slip applie to the piece of “raw” greenware, before firing. YES?

    It’s funny, I tried to contact you through your Etsy site (pilot error) with the very same questions these people above asked. We’re obviously pretty impressed with the simplicity of what you do combined with the beautiful impact of the finished piece! I love it when something so obvious becomes apparent. Kinda like the forest with the proverbial trees, YES?

    Thanks, Kim…they’re beautiful.

    –Sue

  10. Alan | July 24th, 2009 at 5:06 pm

    Before leaving the pay cheque behind to become a ceramic artist, its useful to have financial support by means of inheritance, teaching, alimony or a spouse/partner who is bringing in an adequate income to support the artist.
    Being laid off from the artists usual employment, for what ever reason, can be manipulated as an opportunity if suitable financial backup is available.
    Get the financial support, and you can call yourself a ceramic artist.

  11. Kim | July 24th, 2009 at 5:18 pm

    Thanks Sue!
    “YES” to all your questions.

  12. ELLY | July 24th, 2009 at 7:01 pm

    I was unable to access the video!

  13. Marko | July 24th, 2009 at 7:49 pm

    Kim,
    Thanks for sharing your techniques. You are blessed with a talent. Don’t ever quit. I heard porcelain was hard to work with on the wheel, but you make it look so simple. Bravo!

    Marko

  14. Liz | July 25th, 2009 at 8:32 am

    Fantastic. What an inspriation. Thank you so very much for sharing your passion (AKA work) with us. I aspire to find that oneness with this medium.

    Thank you again for sharing this.

  15. Kim | July 25th, 2009 at 10:04 am

    thank you Marko and Liz!

    Elly- the video can also be viewed on youtube:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UicyAYZrnRo&fmt=18

  16. Frank | July 27th, 2009 at 1:36 pm

    Way cool I am going to share this with my High School Students

  17. k | July 28th, 2009 at 5:53 am

    thank you for sharing this.

  18. S. | September 17th, 2009 at 6:01 pm

    Great Video!

    Kim, I noticed when you threw the vessel you left it on the bat. Do you leave it there until the piece is leather hard? If so, have you had any problems with uneven drying or cracking?

    I’m still a beginner, so I’m trying to learn everything I can.

  19. Lou | October 15th, 2009 at 9:20 am

    What is the name of the tool you are using to put the dots on the vessel?

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