We were lucky to catch up with Morghan Gray recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Morghan, thanks for joining us today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?
I am fortunate to have worked in the ceramic industry for over ten years, teaching classes, selling my personal work and working in ceramic studios throughout Austin Texas. A couple of years ago, I felt as though something was missing in my life. I was teaching a ceramic class and one of my students was recovering from a stroke and my class was part of his therapy. I researched was occupational therapy is and knew that was going be in the next chapter of my life. I started taking pre-required classes and applied to occupational therapy assistant programs. I knew since I was going back to school and starting a different career, my time in my ceramic studio would be limited and I needed to stream line my work. I use to add imagery on my work as surface decorations and it is very time consuming. That is when I started experimenting with glaze color and color theory. Now my work is very colorful, unique, and distinctive. I’m in occupational therapy assistant program for one and half years and have six months more to go till I graduate. Having to balance student/ceramic artist hasn’t been easy, but I love a good challenge, because that is where personal growth is.
So when I wondered what it would be like to have a regular job, I adapted my work to fit this new chapter.
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 started taking ceramics classes my junior year at Central High School in San Angelo, TX. I fell in love with the medium because it taught me how to dream. I received my degree in Ceramics and Sociology from Louisiana State University and after graduation, I studied ceramics at Jingdezhen Ceramic University, China. I moved to Austin, TX where I started working at Sunset Canyon Pottery as a kiln loader, glazer, clay maker and thrower. I taught ceramic classes at Austin Pottery, Laguna Gloria, Feats of Clay, Mud Austin and the Dougherty Art Center. I also was the studio assistant for J.Prichard Design. I have always maintained and active studio practice and showed my work at a variety of different art festivals and galleries throughout Texas.
I still continued my education and took classes at Dougherty Arts Center, Laguna Gloria, Arrowmont School of Arts and Craft in Tennessee and Penland School of Arts and Craft in North Carolina.
What sets me a part is my simple and thoughtful designs and colors of my work. I make unique pottery for the modern home that is dishwasher and microwave safe.
The most important thing I am proud of is that I’m still curious in the studio and I’m always experimenting with new designs and colors that makes my work constantly evolving.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
I think we have moments in life that you will never forget and pivots your future unknowingly. When I first learned how to throw on the potter’s wheel, it was really frustrating. It is not instant and it takes a lot of time, practice and grit. I was sixteen at the time in my ceramics classes throwing, and throwing and messing up. Nothing was working, and I couldn’t make a simple cylinder. I was determined to make something in the class, and to show progress. I finally made a simple bottle. It was at that moment I knew I could do this and working with ceramics was going to be a part of my life. I have the simple bottle I made twenty three years ago on my bed side table.
So my mission in my creative journey is to keep the promise I made to my sixteen year old self.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of be an artist is when a customer has a connection with my work. Another reward aspect is when you experiment with a new design or glaze and It add value to your body of work.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mgray_ceramics/