Today we’d like to introduce you to Meghan Merkey.
Hi Meghan, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was fortunate to grow up in a house where creativity was encouraged and nurtured. I always had a fun creative project to work on and when my family moved to Michigan, we ended up in Houghton where there happened to be a great Art Center. My parents enrolled me in a clay class and I was hooked. Now, nearly 30 years later I am still hooked. I pursued my BFA in Ceramics at Northern Michigan University and haven’t been able to put it down.
My partner and I have been fortunate enough to move around the country a bit over the last 15 years and each place we landed offered new challenges and new opportunities for me to pursue creating. Our last stop before landing back in Michigan was in Omaha Nebraska. As fate would have it, there was a Pottery studio close to our apartment and for the first time outside of college I felt I had the space and freedom to pursue some new ideas. That is really where Ignite Creative Studio and the Pottery that you see me creating today was born.
We moved back to Michigan after a few years in Nebraska and I was able to set up shop and create from our home.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think like any creative person there are always challenges. Creating is just inherently personal. Every pot I make is a part of me. It came from my brain and my hands. While this is such a privilege and remains one of the most exciting parts of my life, it does leave you with a bit of insecurity. You really have to put yourself out there when you make things that you love and hope that other’s love them too.
It’s also glamorous to think that there is always inspiration and that the flow state of creating is something that just happens naturally. I know for myself it is a series of choices, discipline and practice. That’s not to say that there aren’t times when creating is just easy and fulfilling but some days things just don’t work. Some days I sit at the pottery wheel the exact same way I have for years and years and every pot flops. It’s these times where I find taking a step back is really important.
Every place I have had the opportunity to work out of has had its limitations and there is challenge built into that as well. Space, time, and energy are all at play when you work with clay.
It is also a pretty physical medium. I joke that everything is either heavy or sharp or both, but really that’s pretty accurate. There are challenges with ergonomics that I run into that have changed how I make pots, and that seems to always be evolving as well. I want to be able to do this for the long haul, so I have had to implore more patience than I generally like.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Simply put, I endeavor to make nature inspired heirloom pieces for my customers daily lives. I try to make functional and beautiful pieces that you actually use in your home. I am humbled by the idea that someone uses a mug I made every morning or entertains and pulls out a platter that they found at an art market I was at.
Every piece of mine is handmade and freehand drawn on to get the desired nature inspired design.
It seems this year my most popular items are the Travel mug’s I make and the Garlic Rasp (scraper) in the shape of a Poppy.
I think the pieces that I am most proud of are the ones where the composition, or the image fits the piece in a really pleasing way. I can always tell when I am drawing if a piece is going to have the effect that I want, and if it doesn’t, I adjust.
My current favorite thing I am working on are vases shaped and drawn to look like a cone flower. They have a lot of impact in a space. They draw the eye.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
The Art industry is a really interesting one. Trends seem to change quickly and with every generation. I try to make pieces that fit with a lot of aesthetics. My pieces are a black and cream design, and my hope is that the pieces will work in most spaces.
I have seen a shift in shopping where my customers are more excited about the story behind the piece, the interaction with the artist and how it was made. I think we live in a time of consumption and consumerism that we are all guilty of participating in (I know I am) and my hope is that as a society we move in a slower direction. That we chose things with more intention instead of the immediate dopamine hit that we all get from “retail therapy”. My hope is that my pieces are chosen because they are relatable to the individual who chose it. Each piece is truly one of a kind and to see someone debate which piece they identify with is a really amazing thing. My hope is that my piece is the one someone grabs out of their cupboard to enjoy their morning coffee out of. That they walk around with the travel mug because it fits who they are and how they want to be perceived. Art is personal and being and I am humbled and honored that my art speaks to people.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ignitecreativestudiodesigns.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ignitecreativestudio/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IgniteCreativeStudio
