I started working with clay during a time of deep uncertainty.
I had just come home from college due to the pandemic, and the knots that once tethered me to the life I knew had come undone, and I felt myself…drifting.
I didn’t know who I was or what I was meant to be. But when I sat behind the wheel and pressed my hands against the pounds of potential adhered to the wheel head, I realized that the force of my fingers could create something.
Sometimes it was beautiful; other times, it was a pile of mud. But it was always a snapshot of me in that moment.
Since then, my life has changed in countless ways. I’ve found a new home thousands of miles away from where I began. I’ve said goodbye to friends I thought I’d never lose and hello to ones I never imagined I’d find. I’ve fell off the path, wandered aimlessly, and then made my way to a new route.
Everything around me has ebbed and flowed, but through it all—the messiness and mayhem—I’ve returned to clay, offering it what I cannot hold within myself.
That is the power of creation. It’s a sacred act, allowing us to share a piece of our soul with the world through art. Whether through clay, canvas, or the written word, creation is a way of moving our innermost being beyond the comfort of our bones and into the vulnerable expanse of the world.
I’ve always wrestled with the label of “creative.” It’s often used to define a particular kind of person, much like “doctor” or “lawyer.” But when we do this, we separate ourselves from the truth of our nature: we are all meant to create.
Creativity looks different for everyone, but no matter who you are, a part of you longs to be expressed. For some, it’s through a melody or a painting. For me, it’s clay—and maybe for you, it is too.
I am so excited to announce that starting this January, I will begin offering classes here at the Potterie at Patina Meadow.
Through these introductory sessions, I’ll share the knowledge I’ve gained on my journey with this art. My hope is to pass along the joy (and yes, the occasional frustration) of wheel-thrown pottery and the personal growth it can inspire—even in small, unexpected ways.
I hope you’ll join me. But even if you don’t, I hope you take the time to discover what allows you to connect and share the vast beauty you hold within. The world needs it.
Love,
Leila
