JCCFS: Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background in your medium. How did you get started?

AS: I’ve been a sculptor for six years, but my journey started when I was a kid. My grandmother was a talented craftsperson who made detailed portrait sculptures throughout her life. In my 20s, seeking to explore new creative outlets, I decided to follow in her footsteps and take a sculpture class. The stars aligned: with guidance from an inspiring first teacher at Claymakers in Durham, NC, I took to the medium like a fish to water. In the years since that first class, I’ve honed my skills at creating realistic textures, forms, and details from the natural world. At the same time, I’ve applied those skills to concepts that are whimsical, magical, or surreal. A passion for making the fantastical feel grounded animates my work, whether I’m sculpting an imagined creature or creating more personally challenging works that comment on cultural issues. Even when creating functional ware and jewelry, I seek to imbue my pieces with a mix of concreteness and whimsy. I’m always learning and experimenting.In 2022, I started designing and teaching my own courses at Claymakers. For me, teaching feels like coming full circle. I love seeing students learn and grow, and I hope to ignite the same spark in my students as my first clay instructor did for me.

JCCFS: Tell us more about your class’s specific technique or process.

AS: In this class, students will learn how to create creatures that are full of life, color, and detail: chimeras, dragons, monsters, forest spirits, or anything they can imagine. Students won’t need to come into the class with a  preexisting design idea — in fact, a blank slate might be the best way to start! We’ll begin with concept development and sketching. Then, students will sculpt and refine their pieces, exploring techniques for using texture to create fur, scales, skin, and more small details that make a piece come alive.

JCCFS: What can students expect to leave your class with?

AS: Students will learn new techniques for conceptualizing and building sculptures that feel alive. They’ll practice multiple techniques for building sculptures, creating dynamic forms, and texturing surfaces, like how to create realistic fur and moss. They will also practice combining or reinterpreting elements from real-world sources to create forms that are unusual and surprising. If all goes well, students will leave with a brand-new creature friend. Between lessons, they’ll also laugh (or groan) at my silly sculpture suggestions and bad puns. My class is more about exploration and play than achieving perfection!

JCCFS: What do you enjoy most about teaching?

AS: I love helping students figure out how to make their ideas work. The moment of realization when their lump ofclay starts taking shape and looking like how they imagined is so special! I teach a lot of beginners who don’tcome to my class with much confidence. But with a bit of practice, I think anyone can create sculptures they areproud of and learn new things to take with them to their next project.

JCCFS: What attracted you to the Folk School? What are you most excited about for your first time teaching here?

AS: I’ve always heard great things about the Folk School! The idea of teaching in such an inspiring environment, where both instructors and students are excited about craft, sounds wonderful. I’m particularly looking forward to experiencing the sense of community and seeing how that will enhance the creative process for both myself and my students.

JCCFS: Where do you draw inspiration from for your work?

AS: I draw inspiration from both the natural world and from imaginary worlds. I’m fascinated by the textures and forms in nature, from tree bark, moss, and dappled shade in the forest to scales, feathers, and fur. These natural details bring life and solidity to my sculptures. I’m also inspired by fantasy, folklore, and the idea of creatures that exist just beyond the edge of reality. My childhood was full of fantasy stories, and I’ve always wished reality had a bit more magic in it. Combining these elements lets me create pieces that feel both familiar and otherworldly.

JCCFS: What’s one piece or craft object you’ve made recently that you are proud of, and why?

AS: One recent piece I’m fond of is a sculpture of a cute, stylized raccoon sitting on a realistic tree stump, eating a fish sandwich. The sculpture uses techniques I’ll teach in my class: bringing a whimsical concept to life using natural elements to create works that are both magical and grounded.

JCCFS: What tips would you give an aspiring craftsperson? Anything you wish you knew as a student?

AS: Keep pushing yourself to try new things and avoid getting stuck. New ideas don’t always turn out as planned, but they always push me forward. When I was first starting out as a student, I used to think I was “doing it wrong” when I followed my creative whims instead of sticking to a predefined process or end goal. But overtime, I’ve seen just how much learning can come from experimentation.

JCCFS: Where can folks find your work?

AS: You can find an online gallery of my work grouped by category at scalesandbark.com.

To see what I’m working on lately, follow me on Instagram @scalesandbark.