We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Myra Scholze. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Myra below.
Myra, appreciate you joining us today. Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?
I started making art slowly and purely as a hobby. I never considered selling it because, well, I assumed no one would want to buy it. Six months after beginning to work with ceramics, I hosted an informal sale on my instagram page. It was just a handful of small dishes intended to hold a used teabag, and they sold out instantly. I remember being baffled that I could actually sell the things that I made. It was such a rush, feeling successful and like the things that I made were desirable.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Nerka Designs was born of my love for wild Alaskan spaces, thunderous surf, rough peaks, soft tundra and the colors and creatures that call these landscapes home. I was born and raised on Kodiak Island and I’ve always felt connected and inspired by my home. I struggle with anxiety and depression and painting with watercolors was the first thing that I discovered that allowed me to focus and be fully present. My subject matter is varied, but often focuses on wildlife and landscapes, especially fish, as my day job is as a fisheries biologist. I discovered ceramics several years after I started painting, and was immediately drawn to the tactile nature of the art, and feeling like I was mixing artistic expression and function. I love working to create and decorate a beautiful piece that can be used as a functional part of dining every day. Working on the wheel has the same affect as painting – I feel fully present and relaxed. Art has been an integral part of my healing journey, and something that I am constantly trying to share with others. I currently offer stickers, watercolor commissions and prints, and a variety of ceramic dishes, jewelry, and housewares (almost! My new ceramics studio should be ready to move into in January.) and I also offer guided “paint-along” classes at various locations in Kodiak. My dream is to expand teaching to share art with more of my community, and to continue to heal myself and my community through art. This spring, I am planning to begin offering kid’s watercolor classes. Someday I’d like to have a community ceramics studio and teach ceramics classes as well as painting.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
Art has always had a significant positive impact on my mental health, and I want to share that with others. People are often intimidated by art, think that everything they do has to be “good”, don’t know where to start, or believe that they’re not creative or not artistic. I want to break down those barriers. Art is for everyone, and is an incredibly powerful tool for expression. I want to see more art in our communities because I believe that art helps build healthy and resilient communities.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
I love teaching art and watching people gain confidence as they create. Teaching kids classes is so much fun because kids are uninhibited in their joy and expression. Adults have so many notions about what is “good” and “bad” and “right” or “wrong” and it’s really rewarding to watch those soften over the course of something as small as a two-hour paint-along class. At the beginning of the class, I always have a handful of people assure me that they’re “not at all creative” and they’re sure their painting is going to be terrible. That response is one of fear, and that’s okay! It’s scary to try new things, even if that thing is art. I’ve never had anyone walk away dissatisfied with the painting that they create. It’s so rewarding to see people more confident and positive when they leave. I truly believe that those little boosts in confidence and two hours of slowing down and concentrating on creative expression can positively impact people’s lives. It’s also really fun to get repeat customers, especially when they were initially critical of themselves and their abilities. I love seeing people come back for another class, bringing a new group of friends with them, and being the person who is confident and excited instead of insecure and unsure.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.nerkadesignsak.com
- Instagram: nerkadesigns
- Facebook: Nerka Designs
Image Credits
Frose Photography