PeifferStudios: Amazing Ceramicist

A few months back I met Brooke of PeifferStudios through an Etsy team and have gotten to know both her work and her. She is one amazing lady whose dedication to her family, business, and those on the Etsy community with whom she is involved is practically unmatched. I've really enjoyed getting to know her and hope you do too!

1. Tell me a little about yourself.

Well, I love kids, fortunately, because I teach high school ceramics by day, and have one of my own that I spend almost all of the rest of my time with. I live in the ever changing beauty of mid-Michigan. When I grow up, I want to be an artist. I am a multi-tasker to a fault...I can't stay focused on the same thing for too long, and finish about half of the projects I start. I am an animal lover and I would love to live on a big farm someday.

2. What made you choose to become a potter?

I never really thought of myself as a potter, as I don't really think of any of my work as "functional." Of course some of it is, like the pendants, bowls and vases, but I tend to make things without a use in mind. I found clay in college, and was hopelessly addicted. I had been majoring in painting and printmaking, but clay allowed me to make real things, instead of illusions of things. Clay also suits my personality in that, at some point, it dries out. I can't keep working on it past a that point. I need time limits. With painting I could never decide to be done...I could always make it "better."

3. Your designs are beautiful and unique. Where does your inspiration come from?

Thank you. That's always nice to hear. My inspiration comes from nature. No doubt about it. I walk around my yard with my camera and macro lens almost every day, and almost every day I find something new and amazing to look at and fancy over...and my yard isn't THAT big :) I feel at peace with nature, and it never ceases to amaze me.

4. Describe your creative process.

I have three:
1. I sketch until I come up with an interesting design and set about making it.
2. I have an image in my mind of something very specific, and just start.
3. I play with clay until I see something worth keeping. All of these are sporadic and apply to all of the media I work with.

5. Apart from creating things, what do you do?

I take photographs, I draw, I dream up future product lines for future Etsy shops, I sew, I cook. My husband and I love to listen to music and go to movies. I play with my son. We love to rough-house.

6. What are your favorite thing about selling online? How about your least favorite?

I love that I don't have to sit in a booth all day, or peddle my wares to galleries and shops. I can just be the homebody I am, and the traffic comes to me. My least favorite...hmmmmm, that's a toughy, this is the only place I have ever sold my work, so I can't really compare it to anything else. I guess I would say that I'm not fond of the packaging and shipping, but it is getting easier.

7. How do you promote your work?

The only thing I really do to promote my work is to network with other etsy sellers via Etsy Teams, make a ton of treasuries and try to be visible. I have a blog...don't post. I have a Facebook page...don't post. If I don't really enjoy stuff, I tend to neglect it.

8. What is your all time favorite work of art?

I have different favorites in all mediums, but my favorite piece of all time is "The Hallucinogenic Toreador" by Salvidor Dali. I love the mystery, and the hidden images, and the layers. I really admire his talent for painting unreal things as if they were really there.

Be sure to visit Brooke's Etsy shop where you can find all of the beautiful works featured in this article.