In the Spotlight { Prince Design UK }

I am quite excited to introduce you to this week’s spotlight artist, the friendly and talented Elizabeth of Prince Design UK!  Elizabeth makes the most amazing poppy bowls and lacy birdies, and I’m in love with her heart-shaped ornaments!  Elizabeth was lovely enough to give us a little glimpse into her ceramicist’s world:

How did you get started in your craft?
I studied fine art and specialised in sculpture for my degree, and then worked as an interior designer in domestic interiors for seven years. During this time, I found ceramics as a hobby, and quickly became obsessed.

Where do you find your inspiration?
This is tricky for me to answer really. There are many many things that inspire me. Everything around you can inspire you, and not just the good stuff! Sometimes I will see something I dislike and think about how I could use an element of the concept behind it and create something that is better. Other times I am inspired by natural forms, objects that I find, patterns, textures, interiors, art, design, contemporary culture and visual codes. I guess the real answer is everywhere and anywhere!

Share with us a little about your creative process.
I draw occasionally and jot down notes of ideas to persue, but only as a starting point. Most development is done in clay these days. I will make a prototype, and sometimes I will then discard the idea. Other times I will make more and more and refine the form until I am happy with it. Often I will change the surface, or experiment with many variations until I am happy with it. Other times, I will make the same object in a range of versions.

How do you promote your shop/work?
Etsy has been a great showcase for my work. Having work on there has enabled me to reach a much larger audience than I could have ten years ago. From there and other online marketplaces, I have had wholesale enquiries, and some of these have lead to great press opportunities. I have been really lucky in that I have had great support from bloggers too.
As I sell online, I promote my work online too.
I have a page on facebook – http://www.facebook.com/pages/Prince-Design-UK/139789272731?ref=ts
and also a blog –  http://gonepotty.blogspot.com/
I also show work in commercial galleries.

What does 2010 hold in store for you?
2009 was a great year for my business, and I hope to keep steadily growing throughout the next year too. I love doing what I do, and feel extremely privileged to be able to make a living this way. The run up to Christmas was so hectic with fulfilling orders that there was barely any time for making and I have really missed it. As a result, there are quite a few new ideas spinning around my mind that I cannot wait to get started on!

If you had a day free of any obligation, how would you spend it?
Doing what I do now, or on a beach somewhere hot with cold beer and good friends.

What is the most valuable thing you have learned within the past year?
You get out of life what you put in. I have seen people who have done wrong get back exactly the same, and I have seen positive people get positive results. Be positive and be kind, even when the going gets tough.

How would you like to be remembered by future generations?
I’m not sure that I really want to be remembered at all! One of the most wonderful things that has happened over the last year has been that people have commissioned me to make bowls to hold their wedding rings on their wedding days. It has been great to make objects that will serve as visual prompts for other people to remember special moments in their own lives.

Thank you Elizabeth for sharing a little more about yourself and your work!   Stop by and check out Elizabeth’s shop and her blog!