Meet the Maker: Carla Pillsbury
This month’s Meet the Maker feature is a look into the life of one our teachers, Carla Pillsbury.
Carla has been teaching at Hand / Thrown since 2021, she has taught beginning and continuing wheel throwing as well as surface design classes. She makes work under the name Ware for Life.
Her next class with us starts Mondays, March 16th at 11:00 am. Learn more about Carla below and sign up for her Beginning Clay Wheel Throwing class.
HT: Tell us about yourself, your work and where you’re from!
CP: I grew up clawing hunks out of clay out of the banks of the James River. While studying architecture at Va Tech, my study of ceramics was formalized and honed to compliment my design education. The immediacy and intimacy of clay was a counter point to the slower and more abstract study of building. In my free time as a professional, I turned to clay to reconnect with my hands. After the birth of my son, I pulled away from architecture and tried to find a balance between domestic and creative life. As my son grew, my work in clay expanded to a more professional level, challenging me with show deadlines and wholesale options. My practice continues to grow and change.
HT: Tell us a little bit about the style of work you enjoy making most!
CP: Lately I have been most excited about surfaces, so much of my work currently feels like elaborate canvas prep! My pieces are pretty simple forms allowing for a lot of variation in surface design. But! I’m beginning to check in with form, questioning more how form might inspire surface. It’s fun to go back and forth.
HT: What originally drew you to working with clay?
CP: Clay curiosity feels innate, it’s been such a huge cross cultural part of human history! As a little kid I would dig out veins of clay in my driveway and squish out little figures and pinch pots. Working with clay connects with something primal, making pieces that either bring joy, or sprit or nourishment.
“I grew up clawing hunks out of clay out of the banks of the James River. The immediacy and intimacy of clay was a counter point to the slower and more abstract study of building.”
HT: When did you join the Hand / Thrown community?
CP: In 2018 I was lucky enough to be in the HT debut holiday market! Then in 2021 got to start teaching there once the pandemic settled down. I’ve also gotten to take a slip casting class from the excellent duo Matt & Val from People via Plants.
HT: What type of clay do you like to work with, why?
CP: The search is on for my new favorite clay. Highwater, heavy sigh. I love to work with dark brown mid range clays because they so versatile. You can take advantage of the rich background color to give depth to some glazes, or you can apply a layer of white slip to create more contrast while keeping that same rich base. Mid range clay also offers so options for color and texture too, you can play with some atmosphere and fluidity like some higher fire glazes but can also get things very bright and crisp similar to earthen ware.
HT: Who are some artists you admire, why?
CP: Ruth Asawa, Emily Dickenson, Ovid, Mary Cassatt, Mark Rothko, Edward hopper, Lucy Rei, Octavia Butler, Amy Tan, Ann Pachet, Barbara Kingsolver, Mitzki, CMAT, Tamar Adler, Julia Child, Alice waters, Edna Lewis, M.K. Fischer, Andrew Wyeth, Rhea Calpeno, Helen Reed, Erek Jones, Eli McMullen, Carl Patow, Alex Little (all of my amazing studio mates on Leigh St)
HT: Where do you find inspiration for your work?
CP: Mundane moments and rituals from moving through a day. Nourishment through food and connection.
HT: Do you have a favorite step within your process?
CP: Every step has a moment of joy. I do really enjoy trimming though. A satisfying curl of trimmed clay is so gorgeous and I love coxing out the final form of a pot.
HT: Describe your favorite piece of pottery (currently). Share a photo with us.
CP: This may not count as pottery but I have a pyrex tea cup that mean a lot to me. It’s part of a set belonging to my mother. She is a tea person and almost always and immediately offers tea before, during and after any conversation. The cup reminds me of chatting with her and how weirdly important something so small in simple can be in connecting two people.
HT: What is your favorite tool, why?
CP: Every mud tool, their silicone ribs are my favorite. But one of my most used tools is a bamboo sandwich skewer I got from Lunch/Supper 5 years ago, it’s a great stylus.
HT: What’s your sign?
CP: Libra…all about balance.
HT: Cats? Dogs? Or other!
CP: Both!! Currently have a tuxi who appeared on our porch one rainy January. Her name is Boots and she is very silly.
HT: What’s next for you? Tell us about your practice.
CP: I have been working out of my attic for most of my practice, then to a sweet little space in Scott’s Addition. We are currently building a studio behind our house! It is a combined workspace with my husband. He’s an architect and likes to spend his free time working with wood and metal. But I am very excited to have a work space very close to home, insulated! With windows!!
Sign up Below To Learn from Carla!
A great course for beginners or anyone just getting started!
In this course we’ll introduce techniques for throwing cylinders, cups, bowls and more, focusing on form to advance your skills and your repertoire! We'll cover wedging clay, throwing, shaping and trimming on the wheel, surface decoration and glaze application. All participants must be 16 years of age or older. Classes are limited to 8 participants.
We also have a BIPOC Beginning Clay - Wheel Throwing class — check it out!
All students enrolled in a multi-week class are allotted up to 6 hours of unguided Open Studio time weekly to practice outside of class. Students can retake this course as many times as they like.
Please check our FAQ’s page for additional information on the studio and read our Cancelation Policy prior to booking!
This is a 6 week course and each session is 2.5 hours long. Tools are not included in multi-week classes; bring your own or purchase a kit from the studio! There must be 6 students registered to confirm.
*The Shimpo Pottery Wheel may be harmful to a person who has a pacemaker. Serious injury or death could occur. Consult a physician before using.*
