Q&A:
1. Please introduce yourself!
Hello! I’m Dan, by day I’m a Creative Director at Netflix and by night I sling mud at NAPS. I did some hand building at school but really picked it back up as a means to decompress from the 9 to 5 about ten years ago.
2. Your clay story: when and how did you first get into pottery? Can you remember your first pottery experience? Do you have any first memories that stick out?
I vividly remember my first thumb pot at Sunday school around 6 years old but also still have my first bookends I made as a teenager. One end is with me here in Los Angeles and the other sits in my brother’s house in Edinburgh, Scotland.
3. What forms do you make most, and what’s your style or go-to techniques/materials?
I oscillate between brusquely made observations of birds, toads and fish – inspired by the 19th century British grotesque masters, the Martin brothers. Landscapes that are juxtaposed with nebulous geometric mineral extractors from Proxima Centauri system. Lately I’ve been getting excited about brutalist renditions of utilitarian objects like soap and butter dishes. I use about 4 tools regularly – bamboo handled scrapper, a wire brush and a rough stone I found outside somewhere. My style sits between the wabi-sabi philosophy and some kind of utilitarian brutalism.
4. What appeals to you about clay and what lessons has it taught you?
Tempered patience – in the sense that you must join and assemble when things are just right but if you wait too long, the moment will pass. The physical act of making something with your hands is profoundly cathartic after a week of working digitally or a few steps removed from creative.
5. How did you find Not Another Pottery Studio? Do you have any special moments, or favorite memories with other members / students?
I saw NAPs in my local neighborhood as it was preparing to launch and knowing a friend of mine Mira, was a tech there – that was just gravy. Lots of quiet relaxing moments as the studio is not overcrowded but being referred to as the ‘bird man’ by one of the kids in the classes was cute!
6. What advice would you give to someone starting out in pottery?
Give yourself some grace, it’ll take a minute to get used to the medium. Don’t be too precious, fail fast and don’t fuss over things too much.
7. If we want to see more of you, your work, where would we go?
I have my IG @dan_r_owen and a website www.thesocietyofthewoods.com and I do take commissions.
