Artist Profile

Karen Fiorino - Ceramics

Welcome to my whimsical world of pottery located in the heart of the Shawnee Forest!

I've been creating functional pottery for about 15 years, starting with a few classes in ceramics on the advice of a good friend who informed me “Since I work at the university, take real classes for free, instead of a craft shop class”. Thus started my journey in clay. I fell in love with the process, bought a wheel, paid off the truck and quit my job to pursue a life of art. Twists and turns of life happen, and it seemed as soon as we had built the studio at the house, I became pregnant. That was 12 years ago. Had to slow down those first couple years, but slowly I have continued creating and perfecting my art, many times using my son’s likes as the basis for my designs. I go to various art fairs to sell my work, and am well received these markets. -- January 2010 marked my beginning opening my shop on Etsy and having the whole world have a peek of my work.

I named my clay studio, Clay Lick Creek Pottery after the name of the creek that flows across the land where I live. When we bought the property, I had yet begun making pottery­seems preordained that I became a potter, don’t you think?

I specialize in functional pottery making serving bowls, mugs and other fun pieces featuring a majolica glaze decorated in brilliant colors over a red earthenware body. I believe people should have beautiful objects in their homes and use these beautiful objects in their everyday life. Nature inspires me, from the smallest to the largest of creatures­from the colors of geological formations to the colors of the sunrise and sunset. Ideas come to me from my zoological background (did I mention my education experience? I have a B.S. and M.A. in Zoology, specializing in Ichthyology (fish) and I draw a lot of my inspiration from this), a little dream work and images which many may not come to think. Add to that a little bit of humor and what appears is a palette of vibrant, joyful and whimsical designs that come to life on my pottery.

“Oftentimes, I have no idea what my work will look like until I am done, the designs simply develop while I am working on them. My goal for each piece is that when people come in contact with my work, they will experience joy and positive energy. One of my favorite things to hear from people who have my work, is how much they enjoy my pottery, how it makes them happy. If one of my purposes in life is to spread happiness, I believe I am succeeding one person at a time”---Karen