Hello, special gift! And thanks, Karacotta Ceramics!
“Playing in the dirt for a living.”
That’s how Austin-based ceramicist (among other things) Kara Pendl describes her art — a thoughtful curation of functional ceramic objects dubbed Karacotta.
In support of our ever-growing FP MART collection — culled from Markers, Artists, Repurposers, and Artisans — we wanted to know more about Kara’s inspiration, her process, her impact within the Austin community, and share all of that wonderfully clayful info with you.
Without further ado, here’s a short and sweet interview with Kara, ala Karacotta:
What led you to ceramics, and the birth of KARACOTTA?
I am a (mostly) self-taught potter, with early instruction from a high school art class, a hobby exploration in 2011, and a lifetime of creative curiosity. In 2017 I decided to create Karacotta with the mission to bridge the gap between ‘aspirational’ and ‘possible.’ I believe that a beautiful space cultivates creativity and a richer life experience. Everyone deserves to live and work in a space they truly adore. I create one-of-a-kind functional art pieces for everyday living. Each collection is created with intention, and each piece is handmade in Austin using a multi-step process over the course of many days.
What do you love most about this medium?
I love the organic nature of clay. A day at work in the studio means a day playing with dirt -- I couldn't think of a job that speaks more to my love of nature. Additionally, because of the organic nature of ceramics, we are able to keep our business sustainable by sourcing the best local materials.
From where/who/what do you draw the most inspiration for your work?
As a Wisconsin native, I grew up exploring in the woods, adventuring in nature, and creating with organic materials -- these experiences heavily influence the unique aesthetic and processes in the body of my work. Our glazes are created to reflect nature, with our current colorway inspired by the desert, ocean, and sunset.
Can you share a bit about your process, being that all of your work is done by hand?
During the creation process, each Karacotta piece is touched no less than ten times, equaling several hours of specific attention. After the design stage, each piece is thrown on the wheel or created using custom molds, left to dry overnight, trimmed, sponged and sanded, bone-dried, bisque fired, sponged and sanded again, glaze fired, and finally inspected, stamped, and delivered. We believe in craftsmanship and do not cut corners for production’s sake. We locally curate our tools, clay-bodies, and glazes from the best of the best, or we make them from scratch ourselves.
That’s how Austin-based ceramicist (among other things) Kara Pendl describes her art — a thoughtful curation of functional ceramic objects dubbed Karacotta.
In support of our ever-growing FP MART collection — culled from Markers, Artists, Repurposers, and Artisans — we wanted to know more about Kara’s inspiration, her process, her impact within the Austin community, and share all of that wonderfully clayful info with you.
Without further ado, here’s a short and sweet interview with Kara, ala Karacotta:
What led you to ceramics, and the birth of KARACOTTA?
I am a (mostly) self-taught potter, with early instruction from a high school art class, a hobby exploration in 2011, and a lifetime of creative curiosity. In 2017 I decided to create Karacotta with the mission to bridge the gap between ‘aspirational’ and ‘possible.’ I believe that a beautiful space cultivates creativity and a richer life experience. Everyone deserves to live and work in a space they truly adore. I create one-of-a-kind functional art pieces for everyday living. Each collection is created with intention, and each piece is handmade in Austin using a multi-step process over the course of many days.
What do you love most about this medium?
I love the organic nature of clay. A day at work in the studio means a day playing with dirt -- I couldn't think of a job that speaks more to my love of nature. Additionally, because of the organic nature of ceramics, we are able to keep our business sustainable by sourcing the best local materials.
From where/who/what do you draw the most inspiration for your work?
As a Wisconsin native, I grew up exploring in the woods, adventuring in nature, and creating with organic materials -- these experiences heavily influence the unique aesthetic and processes in the body of my work. Our glazes are created to reflect nature, with our current colorway inspired by the desert, ocean, and sunset.
Can you share a bit about your process, being that all of your work is done by hand?
During the creation process, each Karacotta piece is touched no less than ten times, equaling several hours of specific attention. After the design stage, each piece is thrown on the wheel or created using custom molds, left to dry overnight, trimmed, sponged and sanded, bone-dried, bisque fired, sponged and sanded again, glaze fired, and finally inspected, stamped, and delivered. We believe in craftsmanship and do not cut corners for production’s sake. We locally curate our tools, clay-bodies, and glazes from the best of the best, or we make them from scratch ourselves.
Favorite KARACOTTA piece that’s available via FP MART, and why?
My favorite Karacotta piece available on the Free People Mart is the striped tumbler. This piece was inspired by a trip to Baja California Sur. I fell in love with its vibrancy, juxtaposed with the crystalline ocean and knew when I returned, I wanted to create a piece to remind me of that trip. This tumbler can be used for anything from your morning coffee to your favorite cocktail. Some of our customers even use it as a planter for succulents!
In addition to ceramics, you co-founded an all-women’s art collective in Austin, TX. Can you talk a bit about Broad Studios?
Broad Studios was founded in 2018 by myself and four other local women creatives. We wanted a space that would not only serve as our studio, but also a place to collaborate and be inspired by each other. Originally, the collective was born out of necessity, but it has since become a community as some of the “broads” move on to their own studios, and others create new businesses, like the Broad Studios Clubhouse — the class and learning branch of Broad Studios.
Words you live by:
“To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow. So do it.” — Kurt Vonnegut
My favorite Karacotta piece available on the Free People Mart is the striped tumbler. This piece was inspired by a trip to Baja California Sur. I fell in love with its vibrancy, juxtaposed with the crystalline ocean and knew when I returned, I wanted to create a piece to remind me of that trip. This tumbler can be used for anything from your morning coffee to your favorite cocktail. Some of our customers even use it as a planter for succulents!
In addition to ceramics, you co-founded an all-women’s art collective in Austin, TX. Can you talk a bit about Broad Studios?
Broad Studios was founded in 2018 by myself and four other local women creatives. We wanted a space that would not only serve as our studio, but also a place to collaborate and be inspired by each other. Originally, the collective was born out of necessity, but it has since become a community as some of the “broads” move on to their own studios, and others create new businesses, like the Broad Studios Clubhouse — the class and learning branch of Broad Studios.
Words you live by:
“To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow. So do it.” — Kurt Vonnegut
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