My first profession out of college was writing. I still connect that craft form with my current communication outlet, clay. I believe art is a kind of storytelling. I also think 3-dimensional creations made from clay share just as much of a story as a 2-dimensional painting or photograph.
Along with a tactile communication, the visual pleasure a pot conveys is the opening paragraph of a story. For some that may be enough – the abridged/cliff notes version.
Other ‘readers’ may want more details. How was this piece made? What are the chosen materials used to complete the final product? Direct conversations with potential buyers often lead to this explanation.
The truly curious, will want the full story. They may investigate why a particular piece was made. What was the motivation or inspiration? How might this relate to the person’s own life experience? For the artist, some of this storytelling can be relayed in the form of an artist statement.
I like to share the story of my creations, even if I am not available to speak with an interested customer. I tag each of my pieces with a descriptive explanation about its creation. I think it can answer some questions and invites people to become part of the story as well.
