Artist Perspectives: K Beach Studios
Husband and wife Bryan & Shannon Olds discuss their pottery practice
What is your medium of choice?
Our mediums of choice are high-fire ceramics and fused glass art.
When/How did you discover this medium and make it your own?
Shannon: I took a couple of art classes at Elmendorf AFB in 2012 where I learned basic pottery throwing and fused glass techniques. After I practiced for several years at home, I eventually taught my husband to throw and the process of fusing glass. Pottery was my personal favorite while my husband was more interested in fused glass. We would create pieces together- I would focus on pottery and he would focus on glass. We created pieces that were inspired by nature and since we spent so much time outside, the pieces that we made felt very personal. More recently, we’ve both been focusing on pottery.
Where and how do you work?
We split time between our home studio and the Kenai Potter’s Guild. We have everything we need at home except for the high-fire gas reduction kiln but we really enjoy the comradery of the fellow artists that we meet at the Potter’s Guild.
How does your creativity/art making fit into your life?
We feel really fortunate because we get so much inspiration in our art from our everyday life and hobbies. Living in Alaska has given us such a unique influence on our art; we get natural and frequent inspiration from simply looking out our window, walking on the beach, fishing, and gardening. Even when we travel to other places, we like to walk and look at trees, leaf patterns, rivers and lakes, flowers, and wildlife. Creating and making art feels like a constant in our life and we’re really thankful for that.
We all get frustrated at times in our lives. Whether with our art and we somehow overcome it or with life in general and our art saves us. Can you share a frustrating moment with us and how you dealt with it?
Being an artist reminds us to not take things too seriously. When you’re working with pottery (especially when you’re working with deadlines), everything comes down to the final firing. If you put a lot of time and effort into a piece, and it doesn’t turn out like you had envisioned, it can be very disappointing. We try hard not to get too attached to our work but that is sometimes easier said than done. Working with pottery serves as a constant reminder that sometimes things don’t turn out the way you except them to.
Have you found current events to be inspirational or stifling? How have they impacted your art?
2020 definitely felt stifling but we focused a lot of our energy into our art. There was so much uncertainty and mistrust in the world so putting our efforts towards art was a great escape.
Do you see new roles developing for artists/art?
Absolutely. Because of social media, we’ve seen so many places for artists to show up to new audiences. Social media allows artists who live in a small town in Alaska like us to be seen by people around the world. Now, being an artist seems not only accessible to more people but also intriguing to so many more people. Having that kind of support definitely feels encouraging as an artist.
How do you share your creativity?
We share our work in our local community by supporting nonprofits through donations. We also mentor new and aspiring potters that we meet in the Kenai Potter’s Guild, fairs and events, and online through social media. I am mainly active on Instagram where I share my pot making process, kiln openings, fused glass art, and inspirations. I love that social media connects me with people who appreciate pottery and it’s been fun to share on that platform.
What ideas do you have for how artists can share their work with the community?
I think there are so many opportunities for artists to share their work, both in person and online. You can get involved in local art centers, you can teach classes and take classes, and you can donate to NPO’s. Sharing online is cool because you can invite people into your creative process and make connections with people around the world. Sharing on Instagram has introduced me to people that I could never meet in person and it’s really cool to share our work with people everywhere.
Is there anything else you would like to share/include?
Thank you so much for this opportunity to share our work with the Kenai Fine Arts Center!
Follow Shannon and Bryan on Instagram @KBeachStudios