Meet a Maker: Edition 20

Meet Carla Sealy

Learn more about her ceramic practice and business, Naked Clay Ceramics

1. What is your craft and how did you get into it?
I’m a multidisciplinary artist, currently working as a ceramic artist. After spending 15 years working as an Environmental Scientist I decided on a career change. I went back to university this time to do an Art Degree. I chose to specialise in hot glass. I’d had taster workshops in ceramics but at the time it was glass not ceramics that had my interest. After setting up a glass studio I gradually became more interested in working with clay through making clay models for mould making for lost wax casting of glass. In 2017 I made the transition to working only with clay, designing and making my first tableware
collection.

2. What is one interesting fact about you?
I’ve had a professional working life as both a scientist and an artist. I’ve been a geologist and chemist from both sides of life!

3. How long have you been making?
Since I was a child! I learnt knitting, crochet and patchwork from my mum and my aunt and I was making my own throws and clothes by the age of 8!

4. Who are your favourite makers in your craft?
Magdalene Odundo and Edmund De Waal. They have very different styles of pottery, but both make work that is serene, peaceful and conceptually interesting.

5. What is the most challenging skill/technique you learned in your craft?
Making plaster moulds for slip casting and lost wax casting.

6. What is your favourite part of your craft?
A week after everything comes out of the kiln! It’s often the case that when I’m trying to achieve something it never comes out exactly as I wanted or expected. It takes a few days to take off the critical lens and see and enjoy the pieces for what they are instead of what I thought they’d be.

7. What project are you most proud of and why?
Designing and making my tableware range. It was a lot more challenging and took longer than I expected. Firstly finding a clay that was different from what was available and in common use at the time. Getting to grips with it technically when there was little information available and evolving a shape and design that best suited the clay and reflected my individual making style.

8. If someone who knows nothing about you and your practice could know one thing, what would it be?
That I love making. Weather clay, glass, textiles, jewellery, whatever the circumstances and the space available I’ll find a way to make and create!

Learn more about Carla