Charles Lee,
Claymakers,
Durham, NC
Email: lee@alexor.comWebsite: http://www.claymakers.org/
Artist Statement:
I am exploring ceramics by combining different techniques to see what's possible. I believe learning from failure is a process to creating better art.
Studio Description:
I have a garage studio but also takes classes at Claymakers which is an arts community dedicated to pottery and the clay arts located in Durham, NC.
What type of clay do you use?
Stoneware.
What temperature do you fire to?
Cone 6, Raku.
What is your primary forming method?
Mold and hand build.
Do you make any of your own tools?
I do some wood working and build wood forms for some of my work.
What one word would you use to describe your work?
Sculptural.
What is your favorite thing about your studio?
Learning from others.
What is the one thing in your studio you can’t live without?
My slab roller.
What are your top three studio wishes?
1) Gas raku kiln for my backyard,
2) better electrical wiring in my garage, and
3) bigger table work surface.
What’s on your current reading list?
Sci-Fi & adventure.
How do you recharge creatively?
Take a pause and come back to the work a few weeks later.
Do you have any DIY tips for studio efficiency?
I have several sturdy wire shelving with wheels that I can move around and makes cleaning easier.
What challenges have you given yourself to overcome?
I'm now trying to combine colored clay, extrusion, and form building.
What did you first piece look like?
An ashtray. (What were our elementary art teachers thinking?)
What ceramic superpower would you have and why?
I wish I had the superpower to mend cracks!
Who is your ceramic art mentor and why?
My fifth grade art teacher, who made art fun.
What is your studio playlist?
Pandora/Amazon Music
Why do you create art?
It's like giving birth - creating something that is unique and didn't exist before.
What is your best studio tip?
Maintaining proper, consistent humidity levels can avoid inconsistencies between pieces.
If you could change one property of clay, what would it be?
That different clays played nicely with each other.
