Surrender Pots Studio

Category: Pottery.

Artist Bio Karen Keyes, Owner of Surrender Pots Studio, has a Master’s Degree from Long Island University specializing in Behavioral Management Education N-12 grades. Karen is a Self-taught potter and enjoys exploring several aspects of forming beautiful functional and artistic decorative pieces that are formed by wheel thrown, sculptural or by hand-building. Karen has a keen interest in wood fire pottery and has taken several mentoring classes with Kim Ellington of Ellington Pottery and has also learned much about the process of making from Sybil Hedspeth of Pottery by Sybil. Some of Karen’s work focuses on the beauty that comes from imperfections. Realizing that working with clay is never “perfect”, just as people are not perfect, there is beauty to be found in slight or even profound imperfections. Karen gains insights and perspective for her pottery thru her faith in God, Photography (Karen M. Keyes Photography, LLC) and since late 2019, Oil painting. BOOKS FOR SALE: Discovering Beauty is for sale at Blurb.com The Master’s Pieces Bible Study can be purchased through messaging Karen directly. They are $24. OR Artist Statement There is a profound connection between the process and how a finished piece of original, handmade, functional artwork comes to life. Whether through my photography or pottery, my creative outlet is a representation of insights gained from my life experiences and retaining that child-like wonder of how things in nature are created, leading me to redeeming my keen appreciation for God’s amazing gift of such beauty that surrounds me every day. Through the use of Porcelain and Stoneware clays, the course and often harsh process of creating a piece of pottery: from the “miry clay” (Psalm 40:2 – defined as, “thick mud or a troublesome situation”) out of the fire comes surprising beauty. It is through hardships that I have begun to realize what it takes too reflect my Master Potter. (Isaiah 64:8, Jeremiah 18:1-4, Isaiah 29:16) Each stamped or singed original piece of functional artwork is unique and has its own story. Whether a person purchases or admires a piece of my art, I hope that person is led to question the “How” the piece came to be… I return with a question of, “What” does the piece make you think of or feel–“Why” are you drawn in? It is this invitation that opens the door to a relationship to share the Redeeming element of why a Surrender Pot is so personal and how it relates to their story.

Website: Surrender Pots Studio