Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Vitko
Hi RACHEL, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have to say it all started in Highschool for me the moment my Ceramics teacher showed me how to draw on my pots using a slip trailing bottle full of underglaze. It’s a flexible plastic bottle with a hollow needle attached to draw fine lines on ceramics. Underglaze in simple terms is the equivalent of paint in a variety of colors. I loved to draw and combining that with the endless shapes you can make with clay gave me a lot of canvas to play with. I never forgot how happy I was to discover I could draw on clay.
Out of Highschool I went to college for graphic design and illustration. After it all I went back to find clay again. I missed painting on pots and couldn’t stop thinking about that moment in Highschool when I felt I had found my happy place. It had been quite a few years since I had painted on ceramics and found a little community studio to familiarize myself with the process again. Soon I found myself applying to shows and selling my work. I moved into an artist’s coop downtown Minneapolis and set up my own studio for the first time. Eventually after many years I moved to my home in Crystal and set up a new home studio where I operate from now.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely not. Once I realized I had endless ideas and felt I could draw and paint on ceramics for a lifetime I knew I had found what I wanted to do. But I had little education in clay and pretty much dove headfirst into a career I didn’t know much about. So of course there were many bumps along the road. I would say most people I’ve met that made ceramics their living has studied the art of clay and spent many years perfecting that before making the leap to make it their career. I came in with a strong illustration background, but my clay work left a lot to be desired at the beginning. It took a lot of hard work to develop those skills. Endless days, weeks and years throwing and building. Alot of experimentation and things that definitely didn’t work. It felt like I had come into this career a little backwards, but I let my illustration skills lead the way and have felt that made for a very strong and unique look for my work. I stuck out as different and that’s always a good thing in the world of art making, in my opinion. Now I’m proud of my clay work along with my illustration voice and can look back at how far I’ve come and see all the work Ive put in.
Also, selling art was a learning curve in itself. I’m still learning. When your your own boss and no one is around to tell you how to do something you have to figure it out on your own. Its a game of constantly pivoting to different outlets and ways to sell your work. Every year is different, and you never know what to expect. On the flip side of the coin, it keeps things interesting, I never get bored.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I would say I do a very good job of combining functional ceramics and my love for illustration. I am highly influenced by the Art Nouveau and Art deco period of art along with some hints of folk art that creep into my work. I love illustrating nature inspired motifs and incorporating bright colors. I love color and its ability to bring about emotion. I inlay all of my linework into the clay and hand paint each piece myself.
As far as what I am known for, I would say it’s a tie between my owl work and my earrings. Both are unique enough to be recognizable as mine and the owls have a lot of character that draws people in. I have illustrated versions and sculptural versions of the owls. My earrings are a strong representation of my art deco influence and have loud pops of color.
I think what sets me apart from others is my background of illustration before hitting the world of clay. It just gave me a unique perspective and a unique artistic voice that reflects in my work. Thats what really drives me, the illustration part. Thats what keeps me going and keeps me interested. The clay is my canvas. Where I think for many ceramic artists it’s the clay that keeps them going and the part they love.
What am I most proud of? I think I’m pretty proud of making the career of artist work. I had a lot of doubts in the beginning. Letting the outside world influence me a little too much. But I have persevered and worked really hard. Its always a good feeling when you do those things and feel like you’re flourishing. I wanted nothing more in the world to be an artist and live that life every day and Im doing that.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I have not had the chance to collaborate with many people but am open to hearing ideas!
As far as support goes, its always nice to think of shopping local when you need gifts or to treat yourself. For many reasons. Your money stays local and goes to directly supporting someone’s life. Visiting shows, shops, and galleries I am in is a good way to do that. Even just a follow on Instagram is good way to support an artist and what they do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://etsy.com/shop/rachelvitkopottery
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelvitko/
