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Amy Lee | Episode 1129
Amy Lee fell in love with rocks and clay at age two. While studying GeoEnvironmental Science, pottery became Amy’s passion. Alongside a multi-decade IT career, Amy has built and supported creative communities. Today, Amy continues to create and inspire from her Virginia studio, blending science, art, and community.
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How has having a pottery mentor helped you technically?
Over the past five or six years I haven’t really had a focus in my work. So the main thing that I am finding is that the mentorship is helping me with is editing- editing down my work and focusing me. I tend to be all over the place in my work and wanting to try lots of different things and the focus really is the key for me.
How does that focus help you be more creative?
It’s actually amazing because by limiting myself into certain boundaries, like I’m only going to be making this shape this week, or I am only going to use this pattern this week… It helps me to think about the creative nature of just those two things in combination of one another, and how I might add a little alteration of a little sculpting to a piece off the wheel or something of that nature. And it actually expands the creative realm dramatically for me.
What impact does critique and feedback have on your work?
I used to think that some of the language was just kind of mumbo jumbo at times. But I appreciate now that there is a language of IT and that there is a language of art. And it is sort of a standardized language, so the critique process for me and learning about the language of critique, has really helped me understand and identify things about my work and the intent that I am putting into my work. I can see it through other people’s eyes.
Has this fostered a certain amount of motivation and created a deeper sense of support?
Absolutely yes. I felt a point I’ve debated Do I stay on this new chapter path, or do I go back to the IT world? This mentorship this year has reignited a fire under me.
You mentioned that you are doing your mentorship with a group of people, so how does that help you feel in terms of community? Does this make you feel like you are part of the larger community so it is not just the aloneness of making?
Absolutely. You can spend a lot of solitary time alone when you have your own pottery studio. Being able to bounce ideas off individuals and the group chat… The sense of community that I’ve felt in community studios or in guilds or a coop that I was a part of… it is really instrumental to be around other creatives. I think as a creative you need to be around other creatives speaking into your life.
How is this impacting your career?
It has really given me some direction. It is giving me focus. It is really giving me the hope that the path that I have chosen and the path that I am passionate about in clay is really going to be the next chapter of my life.
Book
Among Whales by Roger Payne
Contact
Instagram: @amyleepottery
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