We were lucky to catch up with Kassidy Kliewer recently and have shared our conversation below.
Kassidy, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
I am inspired and energized by the people around me. When one of us has an idea, we love to bounce it around with each other. For me, my creativity is sparked when I am trying new things and pushing myself, whether that be throwing a new form, experimenting with glazes, or giving myself a complicated project. I feel creative when I push the boundaries of what I know I can do, and in doing so, I grow my skillset as an artist. I also tend to find inspiration by making functional pieces for my household or my family and friends. Most items are things I have not tried before, so not only am I attempting something new to me, I am finding ways to do it creatively. In the past, I have made brush holders, salad bowls, butter dishes, a dutch oven, wall hanging sculptures, coffee mugs, bakeware, and many more.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
My story starts in Minnesota, where I was born and raised. I had never expressed any interest in ceramics growing up; in fact, every ceramics class I took frustrated me. When I got to college, it was a requirement to try a variety of art forms to be able to obtain a degree as an art teacher. So, as much as I dreaded it, I signed up for a wheel throwing class as a freshman in 2019, set to start in January of 2020. I had to be able to teach students these techniques after all, so I might as well give it another shot. Little did I know, I would fall in love with it in the short few months I was in it before the pandemic. I continued for the next four years to come back to the ceramics classes. I moved to Washington in 2024 and lost my outlet for my art. In the fall of 2024, I decided I wanted to dedicate more of my time to ceramics and searched for a studio to potentially be hired at. I just wanted to be in a creative space again. I found June and Gem, the studio where I currently work, and it was an instant connection. The space was very warm, the owner Ashley was so welcoming, and while I felt a little unsure if I could handle it, I felt support from my family and my new friends at the studio. I continue to feel it today as I am starting my own brand, Sandcrafted Ceramics. I now specialize in wheel throwing a variety of forms and continue to push my own boundaries. You can find my work for sale on my website and see me make silly posts on my Instagram, and I will be selling work at the Kirkland Art Center through the month of December.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I would say that being resilient, willing to try new things, and making community connections are some of the most impactful qualities in my journey. I would consider myself early in my own journey, but I think I will always feel that way! I have found successes firstly by being resilient and learning to take criticism not only from your peers, but from yourself, and growing from it. I am my own worst critic, but with every critique also comes a learning opportunity. This leads to my next impactful quality, which is having a willingness to try new things, big or small. Personally, I like to give myself a challenge in the form of a new project. I have gone from challenging myself to making small but consistent forms, to a butter dish, to a planter, and lately, to a dutch oven. Each new form I try, I take a step out of my comfort zone and have thus grown so much. The last point I have been working hard on is making community connections. For me, being in a community studio and living in an art-centered community has been very helpful. I have applied to a variety of market opportunities in my area, spoken with people in my husband’s community and found many opportunities there, asked family if they have friends willing to support me and I have been received with love, opportunity, and room for growth. But I couldn’t have started without making those connections.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
Honestly, my mom has been instrumental in my development and growth to being successful. When I need to air out my thoughts, vent about something happening in my life (personal or artistically), celebrate successes, cry over losses, she’s the person I call. I can always count on her to support me while telling me what I need to hear, not necessarily just what I want to hear. She always has a level head and brings me back to a grounded place. She has never failed to encourage me to follow my dreams and supports me from 1,000 miles away, sending me love and a swift kick in the butt when I need it. I have her to thank for helping me find my focus and my voice to advocate for myself and my art.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sandcraftedceramics.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandcrafted.ceramics/
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