Megan Baig
Lady Baig Studio
Ridgefield Park, New Jersey
Websitehttps://ladybaigstudio.com
Instagram
https://instagram.com/ladybaigstudio/
Facebook
https://facebook.com/LadyBaigStudio/
Artist Statement
Someone once asked me why I chose ceramics as a profession. I tried to come up with something insightful, but in reality, all I was thinking was: because I like it. It’s as simple as that. I enjoy getting my hands muddy, forming a ball of mud into a planter or a bowl, then decorating it with carved lines and colors. I like the way each piece starts to take on its own personality as little details are added, making each piece unique from the others. When creating a piece, I try to focus on deliberate gestures rather than spontaneous ones, all the while staying away from making the piece look too structured. I want each piece to reflect a part of me and show the thought and intention that went into its creation.
Studio Description
I have my studio set up in my basement with a wheel, slab roller, extruder, glaze station, and a glaze mixing area in the crawl space. I also have a small test kiln down there with my larger Skutt in the garage.
Currently I'm using Standard's brown speckled clay and their dark brown clay.
What temperature do you fire to?
Cone 5/5.5
What is your primary forming method?
I usually throw on the wheel, but am also into handbuilding on plaster slabs.
What is your favorite surface treatment?
Painting and sgraffito
I've tried making my own ribs, with some success.
What one word would you use to describe your work?
This is tough... "botanical" maybe? I have floral designs on a lot of my work and tend to use earthy colored glazes.
What is your favorite thing about your studio?
It's mine. It's in the basement away from everything else and it just sort of acts as my quiet space. I look around at all the tools, materials, and equipment that I've acquired and I feel so grateful for it all.
What is the one thing in your studio you can’t live without?
My tools, definitely.. It would be so hard to get the level of decoration I love without the tools I have.
What are your top three studio wishes?
My biggest one, and probably most unrealistic, is to have an anagama kiln outside. I'd also like to have the chance to forage my own clay and get more shelving.
What’s on your current reading list?
I enjoy a good sci-fi novel, especially Star Wars.
How do you save money on materials and supplies?
I reclaim clay and will usually let almost-empty glaze bottle dry out before reconstituting the chips.
How do you recharge creatively?
I find that if I take a break and don't force myself to make something I'm not really into, my creativity will gradually return on its own. Looking through other artists' work on Instagram also helps to get me back into the studio again.
Do you have any DIY tips for studio efficiency?
Having both large and small pieces helps to fill time and the kiln. Large pieces are great when you have a full day but the little ones are good when you don't, yet still want to feel productive. Plus they're good for filling up little spaces in the kiln.
What challenges have you given yourself to overcome?
I want to improve my sgraffito skills, and one of the hardest things for me to do is to really just take my time. I don't want the lines to look rushed, and it's hard to undo a wrong mark. I'm also working on stepping back and seeing the piece as a whole.
What did you first piece look like?
Looking back through photos, my first piece was a rolled slab with pressed flowers in it that I tried to make into a wall piece. I still have it in my studio.
What ceramic superpower would you have and why?
To be able to easily throw more than 5–6 pounds of clay on the wheel would be a dream come true. especially if I could make it over 10 inches tall.
What area of skill do you most look to other artists to learn?
I would say handbuilding. It takes a lot of patience and planning ahead to get the piece the way you want it. Many times I either don't wait until the clay is set up enough or I don't get the pieces cut right and it starts to take on a shape of its own.
Who is your ceramic art mentor and why?
My college professor, Ben. He always helped when I needed it and I could always go to him when I needed encouragement or criticism.
What is your studio playlist?
It varies.. I enjoy listening to the Quran, but also have a few indie and international playlists (The Hu, Skald, etc..)
Why do you create art?
I've always enjoyed working with my hands—painting, book-making, and digital art to name a few—but I feel drawn to clay the most. And I just like it. I find I can express myself in ways that I couldn't always do with other mediums.
Who is your favorite artist and what do you admire about that artist?
Of all time, my favorite artist would probably be Vincent van Gogh. I love how he used colors and brush strokes to portray how he felt rather than what he saw.
What is your best studio tip?
Clean as you go, or at least before you leave for the day. I still struggle with this sometimes, but I'm getting better at not leaving my brushes and tools caked with clay.
If you could change one property of clay, what would it be?
