Meet Olivia Norman | Ceramicist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Olivia Norman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Olivia, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I grew up in the Bay Area in a small suburb of San Jose called Willow Glen where I’d ride my baby pink beach cruiser across one busy street to where my best friend lived. Pretty picturesque. What I’m most grateful for in my upbringing is that creativity was encouraged and my parents have always told me to pursue what I love, no questions asked. I was surrounded by intelligent, creative people in my family. My Granny was a kindergarten teacher and whenever we visited she had a new art project or museum for me and my brother to go to when we visited. She is 90 and has more art projects going on that I do. My Mom is the kind of person who is capable of pretty much anything artistic or otherwise. If she didn’t know how to do something, she would figure out. She made all of my Halloween costumes growing up and sometimes I’ll still call her and ask her to make me a costume and a week later its at my doorstep. She taught me to be fearless in pursuing new things. Both my Mom and Granny “played with clay” and have kilns at home, so when I took my first wheel throwing class, I already had some knowledge of ceramics. It felt natural and now that it has become an all encompassing part of my life it feels like I have a deeper connection to both these women. That they have been leading me on this path my whole life.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
What I have recently discovered is how much form matters to me. My favorite part in the throwing process is shaping. That’s why a lot of my work has angles. Angled vases, angled mugs, angled bowls. I have gone pretty minimal with my work and now I’m finding ways to add on. I want my pieces to feel reliable yet playful. I’ve always been working on mixing ancient forms with modern twists. I want someone to look at a piece and question when it was made. It’s always exciting when I have a flood of new ideas or forms I want to try. The hardest part is deciding which to do first! When it comes to putting my work out into world and trying to sell it, its a hustle! A hustle that I’m still trying to figure out. I started applying to as many craft markets as I could. It’s where I have met several wholesale clients and I love meeting people and seeing what they gravitate towards. A lot of times in can feel very vulnerable, like you’re setting your heart up for display as people walk by and decide if it’s worth their time or money, but I don’t make pottery just for money. It’s wonderful and amazing any time I sell something, but I do it because I love it. I know, I know so cheesy, but I do! It feeds a little fire in my soul and has helped me so much with my OCD and feelings of anxiety. I put myself into each piece and I hope people can feel that.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Ok, this is so hard for me to do! I’ll usually bombard my friend with options before they arrive and then we don’t do anything I suggested. Typically, I try to take a friend to somewhere I love in my neighborhood and somewhere new that I’ve heard about. Before they get into town, I stock up on good wine and snacks from Wine and Eggs in Atwater that way we can open a bottle and catch up when they arrive. Depending on our mood, I would either cook dinner or we’d order take from Hail Mary’s. I love to cook and live alone, so any time I can make a more extravagant meal I jump at the chance. The next day we would go to Proof for cappuccinos and croissants. Can you tell what neighborhood I live in yet? and then go on a hike in Elysian Park. I love that loop there. Not too long, not too short and never crowded. In the afternoon, we would get day drunk and go to TJ Maxx HomeGoods and Marshalls in Glendale duh. Dinner would be Colombo’s in Eagle Rock cause I love a martini, steak and people watching. Next day would be a quick throwing lesson at The Pottery Studio from moi, drinks and food truck at Verdugo Bar then late night Korean Spa and fried chicken at The Prince. The Prince also makes a good martini. Did I mention I like martinis? Cause I do. To end the weekend, we would get breakfast sammies at Bubb and Grandma’s new spot, but what am I kidding, we’d probably drink wine on my couch all weekend, put on wigs from my wig collection (there’s about 25) and sing The Chicks and Josie and the Pussycats all night long.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I spoke on her a little already, but my Granny. Mary Lee Zander. I think about her a lot when I’m working. She was my first introduction to pottery. I remember making clay giraffes in the kitchen where my Papa’s old button up as a work shirt and I visualize her garage with all of her tools and underglazes organized neatly in bins with her one of a kind handwriting. Seriously, I love her handwriting. Not only do I give her credit in introducing me to pottery, but her zest for life is what I strive for. She is always wanting to try a new recipe or working in her garden. Several months ago she sent me a quilt she made with my business logo on it because she saw fabric with snowflakes on it and it reminded her of me. Everything she makes is with love and you see it in her work. She wouldn’t call herself and artist, but she is.

Website: oliviasnowceramics.com

Instagram: @oliviasnowceramics

Image Credits
Kristian Punturere for the portrait