These days, I’m making from a place of play, of experimentation, where curiosity is my north star. I mean, I suppose I’ve always tried to do that for every wedding or portrait session, but now it feels like it’s on a bigger level. This looks like pitching shoots that don’t fit neatly into a box – are they brand shoots, or portrait shoots, or narrative shoots, or fine art shoots or something else entirely? I don’t have an answer…I just know that in the moments I get quiet, something inside me says “this could be fun” and my next step is to do that thing.
The inspiration for this shoot came from my own exploration of spirituality, and curiosity about other artists’ ritual and tradition and connecting to an inner voice or higher power influencing how they create. Because this has been the biggest shift for me over the past 18 months, I’m finding myself drawn to other people who make from a place that feels bigger than themselves and that seems like the most beautiful way of connecting and finding community. So today I’m peeling back the curtain with Karacotta, an Austin based ceramicist who makes lovely pieces of pottery and ethically-sourced incense bundles. I was drawn to Kara because her products are imbued with so much joy and color and speak to the senses in a way that feels calming and energetic at the very same time. It’s immediately clear that what she makes is an offering of and an invitation to explore beauty, both outwardly and inwardly.
And before I get to more about Kara’s spiritual and creative process, I just want to leave you with words from Elizabeth Gilbert, whose words in a podcast resonated within me so strongly the moment I heard them weeks after making these photos, and felt like exactly what I was trying to make visible in this shoot, by sharing a story where spirituality and creating art are in a magnificent dance together:
“ We do seem to be living in this universe that is in a constant and unending state of creation…And so if the energy of the universe is in constant creation, when you are in creation yourself, you’re in alignment with it. And that’s why it feels so good, because you’re in the river of the thing that is happening from here until the end the universe, always…If i make something, then i’m also creating just the way the universe is constantly making something, and for some reason, that feels deeply good at the soul level. And when i’m not creating, I’m stagnating against a power that wants me to create with it.”
I hope you find something in the words here that encourages your innate ability to create.
How does spirituality show up in your work?
To me, the definition of spirituality is really just being concerned with elevating your own or another’s soul experience to the highest possible good, and in that way, I try to incorporate spirituality into all moments of every day life. I believe that a beautiful space cultivates creativity and a richer life experience, and that everyone deserves to live and work in a space they truly adore. One way that I incorporate spirituality, or self-care, into my every day life is through rituals that make me feel good! Rituals don’t have to be complicated, expensive, time-consuming, or regimented by someone else… it’s just finding what makes you happy, and for me, that looks like smudging, taking long baths, a consistent yoga practice, journaling, meditating, power walks, and cooking healthy, vibrant food. I try to support spirituality and self-care in others, by creating products like our Smudge Bundle, organic Bath Tea, and the Palo Santo Incense Cones, to provide easy access points for slowing down, and checking in.
Did you inherit or choose your spiritual practices (or a combo of both) and how has this directed your life path and/or how has it changed over time?
It’s definitely a combination of both… my parents are very free-spirited people, who gave me space, autonomy, and support to experiment with who I want to be in the world. They gave me a great scaffolding of spirituality by encouraging time in nature, exposure to traveling + different cultures, and a belief that your life is what you make it. I also know I’ve actively chosen my spiritual path, through a lot of self-development + reading, a personal interest in wanting to continually improve myself, and a knowing that the answer I’m usually searching for is found within, and will reveal itself when I’m pursuing an avenue of ritual (i.e meditating).
How do you engage your senses (sound, touch, visual, smell, taste) in your spiritual practices or in your art/work?
Because I find the majority of inspiration for my work in nature, I engage all of my senses at that point, and it completely influences the work. For example, when I was designing my Ocean Tumbler, I was in Mexico, on a gorgeous beach… I felt the warmth of the sun, the diamond sparkle on the water, the rich shades of blue + greens, and an overall feeling of happiness and joy for no other reason than getting to be in that place, at that moment. Pulling from all of that sensory experience, I designed a mug without a handle so that warmth and cool can be felt on your hands, the 22k gold on the rim has a brilliant shine, and the glaze combination of each cup is unique – all of that combined is intended to bring genuine joy to you, while using the piece!
What is your north star/guiding intention in the work that you do or in the way you show up in the world?
I try to be really conscious about what I bring into my life, and I only want to create things that I personally use. That feels true to me, and is the basis for everything we make. I want the brand to represent ‘everyday beauty’, meaning that it encourages folks to surround themselves with pieces, places, people that they truly love, and shed the rest. Life is too short to be filled with mediocre experiences! Living like this this doesn’t have to be expensive, time-consuming or uncomfortable – it just has to be thoughtful and intentional. I’m still learning that, and I hope to still be working towards a more spiritual, intentional life on my very last day.
What practices help you/or have helped you find your way out of a rut or stay true to your creative self?
Scheduling in alone time or down time is always important for my creative process. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the hustle and FOMO and over-scheduling, so being mindful of building in downtime, solo vacations, quiet time in the morning or evening really helps me stay on track. Also, if I ever find that I’m stuck in imposter syndrome or having a creative block, the quickest, best way through it is to experiment with something totally new and interesting… it could be anything from trying to make a recipe from scratch, a watercolor class, or going to a concert with music way outside my normal playlist… the goal is to bring in fresh energy, and it always brings me out of the funk!
