Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sheryl Sherwood. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Sheryl thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

About 12 years ago I took a clay hand building class from a local potter. He taught hand coiling, hand building, and the Raku firing process. As a long-time artist I had typically used painting and drawing as my artistic outlet, but was always trying other forms of visual arts. Once I got my hands in clay, I became more and more interested in developing my clay building skills.

At the time of taking the clay hand building class, I was working full time and also completing my Bachelors Degree to teach blind and visually impaired children. Having to work, write papers, study, and fulfill an internship, delayed my ability to work in clay as much as I wanted to; but I did manage to make a pot from time to time.

At 59 years old I gave up teaching to be a full-time grandmother and potter. Working full-time certainly prevented me from being able to work in clay as much as I wanted, but, of course, was completely necessary. I would not trade my experience or the time spent as a teacher for anything…not even to work in clay. After leaving teaching I was then able to join a few local clay groups that taught me more about forming and firing clay. I believe my previous art experiences have helped me a great deal in developing conceptual drawings of a clay form, building a variety of shapes and sizes, and working to develop a variety of coloring (without the use of glazes) in my firings. I also use my experiences in teaching blind and visually impaired students to include texture in my pottery.

Sheryl, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Since I can remember I have always been interested in visual arts – drawing and painting through my college years. I’ve also taken classes to learn basket weaving, stained glass, ceramics, and more. As I became older and having to enter the workforce, I was unable to really find my niche, but from time to time would find a class to take to learn another artful skill. Twelve years ago, while working full-time and completing my Bachelors degree to leave one job to become a teacher of the blind and visually impaired, I took a clay building class from a local potter. Pow! I was hooked on the versatility of clay and how I could use my art knowledge and skills to build clay pieces. I soaked in all I could learn from this potter about the coil building and Raku firing process, and still today he mentors me. While teaching I continued to work in clay and participate in workshops, but not as often as I wanted. Once leaving teaching I was able to work full-time in developing my own style of clay creations and firing process that include my work experiences, my faith, and love of art. As a teacher of blind and visually impaired it is essential that students use their sense of touch to learn about the world around them. To that end I include texture and/or unique shapes in all my work.

The thing that sets my work apart is that each of my works begins with a scripture reference written on the bottom of the piece. Once completely fired and ready to go to the galleries where I show, I make a print/Braille card that matches the scripture on the bottom of the piece and accompanies the piece. Along with texture that makes my clay art accessible, the cards are used to share the gospel with all people, sighted or not. Because my clay work represents many aspects of me, I have found that it is essential to take an active part in talking with gallery visitors about my life, my experiences, and how it relates to the process of building and firing. People respond to art work more when they meet the artist, I believe.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I find that walking out to my beautiful glassed-in studio is a great way to start my day. Opening a bag of wet clay, and building the next clay piece, is just a part of the ultimate reward. It’s also rewarding to test my own limits as to the size or shape a piece may be taking, the types of textures to include, possible carvings, and then, which firing method to use (saggar, pit, or Raku fire). All of these are essential and rewarding. Ultimately is it rewarding to see the final fired piece, with its beautiful inscribed scripture, be given a permanent home by a customer.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I am not a techy-type person by any stretch of the imagination. Until a few years ago I resisted joining any social media. But, as my work has expanded and I show in a few galleries, it has become necessary to join in order to promote. My adult children had to show me how to use Facebook and start of page to show my clay work. Then I learned how to utilize Instagram and have it feed to my Facebook page.

Once I joined my first gallery, I decided to start a web page. Yet another learning process. Thankfully there are many that are very user friendly and intuitive. I chose Weebly. As I started the Facebook/Instagram pages, I began sharing my information with friends and family. I also got business cards made that list all of my media contact information and they are at each gallery, in my purse, in the car, etc to hand out. You can’t be shy when trying to promote your work.

Social media has become necessary to big and small business. Your art is worth showing off. Start with any media that is free. Invest in some business cards too. When you join galleries or other professional organizations, they usually will provide a link to your social media and web page for free or a small fee.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.inspireddesignsbysheryl.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspireddesigns.ss/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inspireddesignsbysheryl