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Stephanie Osser,
Needham, MA
Email: stephanieosser@gmail.com
Website: http://www.stephanieosser.com
Artist Statement:
Inspired by meaningful subjects and collaborations. Children, music and nature are at the center of my themes. An illustrator first, my favorite techniques include print on porcelain, Majolica, Mishima, Lithophanes and Architectural Ceramics.
Studio Description
Basement studio, with some months of working in ceramic community residencies in Guldagergaard, Denmark; Keshkemet, Hungary; Medalta, Canada; Watershed Center for Ceramics, Maine; the Ceramic Studio Office for the Arts at Harvard, Boston, MA.
What type of clay do you use?
Porcelain, porcelain slip, translucent porcelain slip, and stoneware.
What temperature do you fire to?
Mid range cone 5/6
What is your primary forming method?
Hand-building and use of moulds I cast from my sculpted forms for insurance I can remake the work.
What is your favorite surface treatment?
Majolica, Mishima, image transfer, Lithophanes made with translucent porcelain.
Do you make any of your own tools?
I found an old pair of string gloves of my Mom’s, put them on and pressed texture into the clothing of a sculpted figure. Have carved bisque stamps & have pressed a candy Twizzler into clay for moulds to create a Twizzler tree mural with my students.
What one word would you use to describe your work?
Musical.
What is your favorite thing about your studio?
Home based, easy access.
What is the one thing in your studio you can’t live without?
My bailey electric kiln.
What are your top three studio wishes?
Small test kiln to make small, fast efficient use of the space for testing or small items, a picture window, assistance when I am juggling too much.
What’s on your current reading list?
Audio books for book club and music while working.
How do you save money on materials and supplies?
NCECA sales, recycling clay and glaze.
How do you recharge creatively?
Children and Adult workshops I teach, sketching while listening to classical music, opera, singing in my choir and swing band, walks with family.
Do you have any DIY tips for studio efficiency?
Downsize, donate unused supplies, moluds, etc. clean work surfaces for the next project.
What challenges have you given yourself to overcome?
Juggling many interests with family most important, and getting enough sleep.
What did you first piece look like?
I studied Ceramic with Stanley Rosen, famous for his hand building forms from nature. My first pieces were very abstract too, not at all illustrative
What ceramic superpower would you have and why?
No breakage after all those labors of love, with perfect glaze fit every time.
Who is your ceramic art mentor and why?
Akio Takamori and Patti Warashina, relate as an illustrator, and love Japanese influences.
What is your studio playlist?
WBUR, 90.9 FM for current events and classical music, opera, operetta and swing band.
Why do you create art?
Have always been encouraged by my parents and teachers, galleries, art directors. Love collaborations, and inspiring others to find their creativity.
What is your best studio tip?
I invite artists over to create with me, including friends who say they are not talented, so I can bring our their creativity and share the joy.
If you could change one property of clay, what would it be?
That it would not dry out while creating-too much misting and wrapping and re-misting, and wrapping.
