We recently connected with Carolyn Fisch and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Carolyn, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

Complex question. I will address half of the “learning to do what I do” question by pointing out what I do comes from who and what I am. Meaning we are all hardwired and evolve over time. This human aspect comes through in an artists work and is learned in a critically personal way. The answer to this is shown in each individual piece of art.
From a technical perspective, I took classes in my youth in a formal university setting for the nuts and bolts of design work and art history, all of which I believe are so important as a foundation for understanding and goal setting in art making. Applying my design knowledge to ceramics is another story. I started with beginner ceramics classes years later in life at a community college, then learned lots in small classes and cooperative study in a beautiful clay communityof 55 clay artists ( Clay Spac helpe in Lisle, Illinois). It also helped to watch master potters (Mostly the amazing Hsinchuen Lin) on You Tube videos.
interesting question about speeding up the learning process. My art speaks from my entire life experience. At the moment, I would like to slow id down a bit! Someone told me long ago “It takes three lifetimes to wrap your head around ceramics”. I appreciate this and don’t put undue pressure on myself to fit into a box of someone else’s learning. I’m more inclined to create a process. If someone wants to learn it later, that’s fun too! At this time in my development as an artist I have to say the skill I have found to be most essential has been to stay loose. I have a number of mentors along the way to thank for the permission to follow my own body physics in clay. That is to say the unique relationship between myself and my art. Embracing the path during the creative process to an end result that makes sense from a visual design standpoint, mastery of materials, and final aesthetic.
A particular obstacle (Oh,,,,,there have been sooooo many…….this IS ceramics…) which stood in my way was the frustration that is centering clay on a potters wheel. No-one escapes this challenging journey. This is often the obstacle which divides clay artists into two categories. Ones who continue to suffer until they “get it” and those who no longer sit at the wheel. I’m not going to say wheel throwing is harder than hand building, that’s another conquest entirely. I will say I had to decide how long I was going to suffer in frustration mode before I needed too take control of the situation. I finally sat down and spent and entire day working on centering the clay on the wheel. Before this, I was in and out of the community studio during open studio hours, which was at the beginning just enough time to set up, be frustrated, clean up and go home. After taking the time to relax and recall all I had learned I felt the physics of all of the materials literally at hand. Ever since, I have been able to learn and play and expand on this skill beyond what I thought possible. Much of my recent art involves initially wheel throwing and altering the pieces to the point of getting them up on the wall. My art is always evolving, as we do in our human experience. Obstacles lead to learning…

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a clay artist with an educational background in classical voice, architecture, interior; graphic and 3-D design, I had a foundation and deep appreciation for the arts prior to getting involved with clay. It wasn’t until later in life when I got “bit by the clay bug” as we say in ceramics. My visual inspiration is derived from travels throughout the world, my favorite place being the Sonoran Desert. My objective is to use my ceramic skills and my life experiences to inspire my relatable works of art.
My work has been referred to a “soulful”. I take that to hart because to me, it means they understand It in some way of their own. Like a connection of our souls or hearts. I am not holding back on letting my life experience show in my work. Sometimes that strikes a somber tone, other times sheer joy. No matter the basis, I tend to show movement and narrative; a sense of fluid moments in time; history with relating emotional undertones if that makes sense. Weather it be a dynamic ocean wave, a peaceful mountain, or humming birds at play,,,
I rejoice in seeing the magic that occurs when art resonates with an individual, that visceral moment we stay engaged with a work of art. Sometimes for a moment, and other times for the rest of our lives. There is still art in my heart from pieces I remember from my early childhood. It is a gift to be able to provide this experience for people who enjoy my work. It is incredible rewarding to create art art that facilitates people being more comfortable somehow in the environment in which they choose to appreciate it. Like taking a feeling along for a ride on their personal journey. Art is wonderfully subjective and people acquire art for various reasons. I’m so fortunate to be able to create art which adds to my patrons life experience in a meaningful way for them. That is what keeps me creating.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Fun question for me to answer because I am a process person. The process is challenging. I apparently find challenge rewarding. Ceramics is a wildly challenging sport! It is “game on” in a full out competition between me and countless opponents in my studio. These mighty competitors include but are not limited to lung invading silica dust; various chemicals eager to stain everything in sight or find a ways to cross contaminate my work environment; Muscle exhausting weight bearing clay blocks, stacks, boxes, show equipment,,,(EVERYTHING in clay is HEAVY),,,,,and the ultimate in studio gymnastics is the tango with gravity. Water is my only friend! And my sponges. And yes,,,,all of this for others (and my) entertainment to stay true to my sports analogy. There is not a chance in my lifetime I will run out of ways to make my art. To me, this is hugely rewarding. I will be able to spend the rest of my life with clay. The big win are the people along the way,,,that is the icing on this complex cake!

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My goal is to always “feel it” during the creative process. If I’m not feeling it, the piece will not have personality; character; emotion. If that element is not in my work, it will not resonate with the viewer. People either don’t care about art, enjoy it passively, want to enjoy the experience of art, or outright need it. The closest my art can come to real life emotion, the more likely someone will recognize it.; relate with it.; keep it with them in some way. That is a huge goal of mine.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.blazingcanyonstudio.com
• Instagram: @BlazingCanyonStudio
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068691674135
• Other: Studio / Gallery: By Appointment: 11751 N. Joi Dr.. Tucson, Az 85737

Image Credits

George Whitson