Biography
Emily Armstrong is a ceramic artist who moved to Portland Maine in 2011 and attended the Maine College of Art where her love for all things clay and illustration have grown. In 2015 she received her Bachelors in Ceramics and started Armstrong Pottery. Emily Armstrong is currently working as a resident artist and Clay Center Manager at Running With Scissors in Portland Maine and teaches ceramics part time in Biddeford, Me. Emily has recently accepted the position of Resident Artist at Watershed Center for the Ceramics arts as the next Salad Days Artist.
A statement from the Artist
I strongly believe that functional items should be beautiful. These objects are meant to create joy in everyday moments and become part of other people’s lives. Through the creation of functional ceramics I aim to turn them into something more, something beautiful and unique that becomes a special part of anyone’s day. This notion drives my desire to create work that, simply, is just damn cool. Through my pottery, I explore traditional making techniques such as wheel throwing and creating dynamic, decorative surfaces. My hand painted surfaces are enhanced through the use of sgraffito and mishima which are historical surface techniques from Japan and Italy. This allows me to create added dimension, texture, and detail in each image. These decorations are influenced through traditional American tattoos, folk art tapestries, organic plant life, and animals. Emotion, beauty, and functionality are the driving forces behind my personal practice. Regardless of who you are, Armstrong Pottery is for the full-time badass in everyone.