Skylor Swann,
Mangey Clay Art,
Fayetteville, NC
Email: mangeyclayart@gmail.com
Website: skylorswann.com
Instagram: @mangeyclay
Facebook: mangeyclayart
Artist Portfolio
My creative process evolved from a deeply ingrained need to know things. My lust for learning comes in waves; when subjects grab my attention, I read up incessantly, make aesthetic associations to the information absorbed. Snagged bits of visual information are used in conjunction with geometric abstraction to create natural forms. Which, in turn, are arranged in environmental tropes. Whether arranged or independent my work explores areas of biology, astrology, cartography, quantum mechanics, sacred geometry, the human condition, and their affiliated implications.
Studio Description
It's a large metal building in the back yard, currently under construction. So, for now, I do my work at the university studio.
STAR White 6, stoneware.
What temperature do you fire to?
Cone 6
What is your primary forming method?
It begins with wheel throwing, however more time is spent hand building.
What is your favorite surface treatment?
An ombré of sprayed glaze.
Do you make any of your own tools?
Yes.
What one word would you use to describe your work?
Idiosyncratic.
What is your favorite thing about your studio?
There's lots of room.
What is the one thing in your studio you can’t live without?
My wheel.
What are your top three studio wishes?
Insulation, heating and a storage loft.
What’s on your current reading list?
The latest issue of CM, Proust, David Quammen, Robert Reich, Robbin Hopper, and Frederick Olsen, and Josh Korda.
How do you save money on materials and supplies?
I can drive to Starworks for supplies to avoid shipping charges. I also buy in bulk for a rated discount.
How do you recharge creatively?
I recharge by escaping into nature, usually mountain biking. Travel is another tool when it's feasable.
Do you have any DIY tips for studio efficiency?
Clean as you go.
What challenges have you given yourself to overcome?
This is a loaded question because most challenges are not given to oneself so much as they are imposed upon oneself.
What did you first piece look like?
I can't recall, but my work in highschool was pretty basic.
What ceramic superpower would you have and why?
I would have "warp control" to stop clay memory from distorting my handles.
What area of skill do you most look to other artists to learn?
Surface treatments.
Who is your ceramic art mentor and why?
Andy Watson and Susan Harris were kind of a two-punch combo.
What is your studio playlist?
I enjoy a good podcast, sometimes netflix, music is reserved for hard labour.
Why do you create art?
I believe it was engrained in me from an early age.
Who is your favorite artist and what do you admire about that artist?
Isamu Noguchi possessed a clean natural aesthetic that imbued every area of his practice.
What is your best studio tip?
Clean as you go.
If you could change one property of clay, what would it be?
I would eliminate clay memory.
