Annie Chriestzberg’s website http://earthtoannie.com

Annie’s pots and my pots met long before, she and I ever did.  She and I were in several shows together and in the same gallery in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.  I love reading her articles in Pottery Making Illustrated, I usually turn to her stories before reading anyone’s else.  Annie teaches workshops out of her home, every few months, and just like the articles she writes for PMI, she full of information and willing to share all her techniques.   She and I have been talking about some day doing a workshop together.  Stay Tuned!!

Tell us a little about yourself!

Aside from ceramics, I love to grow things and to knit. I’m also stupidly fond of my poodle pal Gepetto. He is a spring-loaded magical creature who spreads joy! He is my other sculpture medium.

How did you become an artist?

I studied the performing arts as a child and adolescent. I found my way to visual arts at university, falling in love with metals before cheating on it, and then running away with clay.

 

What is your inspiration for your pieces?

Anthropomorphizing animals. Imagining characters and interactions. And I’ve lived in a bunch of strange places: treehouse, tipi, boat.  That tends to seep in too. I sketch minimally on paper tacked to the wall and chalk boards.

What do you create? Where do you get your inspiration for your ceramics?

I make functional pots from textured slabs, and I tend to work from imagining silly scenarios.

What has been the most effective way for you to promote your art?

Writing for Pottery Making Illustrated is what has really gotten my name out into the world.

What is the most important thing you’d like people to know and understand about your work?

I just want my work to bring pleasure to the collector & user.

What keeps you motivated?

luxury & venue

How do you maintain a healthy work and life balance?

n/a – hahaha! I don’t have this quite figured out right now. Am taking suggestions, grants, and bribes of all sorts.

What or who inspires you?

Lana Wilson. I love her work, her beautiful being & her open- platform attitude in ceramicsland.

Bill Jones. I love to write for him because he makes me feel so appreciated!

Are you a full-time artist?

Not at the moment, and let me tell you that it messes with my sense of self when I’m not making so much. But here’s the thing: There are many different ways to participate in ceramics. I take writing about other people very seriously. I feel like I am documenting people’s processes for posterity, putting pins in the map: Here is someone working and making really interesting things! Know them! I also love the whole workshop scene – both hosting and bringing in great people as well as teaching my own and traveling to do so. Stay tuned. New venue soon.

How does your creative process work?

Sometimes I dream specific shapes – those tend to be the things I slipcast. I have to get an idea about something and decide it’s really important, like figuring out a way to put a tidy footring on a slab cup. I have the pleasurable sensation of thinking whatever I’m working on at the moment is the best thing in the world! I need lots of open-ended time in the studio, which I haven’t had for a while, but have mapped a route back! Hi-yah!

Thanks Annie for your inspiring interview!!!! 

Tags: annie chrietzberg, Artist interviews, Ceramics, pottery, pottery blog

This entry was posted on Monday, January 25th, 2010 at 3:28 pm and is filed under Artist interviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.