A Grounding Practice with Ceramicist Emilee Martin
Emilee Martin started her small batch ceramics brand, Mineral Haus, from the mindful place she felt when making with her hands; a place where your brain and your body connect in a deeply experienced and essential way. We spoke with Emilee to learn about working with clay, building a strong and sustainable brand, and what day-to-day life looks like in her creative practice.
Where are you from and where is your current home-base?
I spent the majority of my childhood in Seattle, Wa but currently reside in Nashville, Tennesse.
What about clay as a medium resonates with you specifically?
Clay offers a unique versatility and potential for expression. With clay, I am able to create pieces that are both functional and sculptural, that can be smooth and refined or rough and textured. There is a sense of alchemy to the process of transforming a ball of clay into a finished piece, and that transformation never ceases to amaze and inspire me.
There is also a rich history and tradition of clay as an art form, dating back centuries and spanning cultures and continents. I feel a deep connection to this lineage of clay artists, and I am honored to be part of a community that values and celebrates this timeless medium.
How do you approach your creative practice? And how do you bridge the creative side of your brand with the business side?
When it comes to my creative practice, I approach it with a deep sense of passion and purpose. For me, creating is not just a hobby or a job, it is a way of life. I am constantly exploring new materials, experimenting with techniques, and pushing the boundaries of what is possible.
At the same time, I recognize that running a successful business requires more than just creativity. It also requires a strategic approach to branding, marketing, and sales. To bridge the gap between the creative and business sides of my brand, I try to stay organized and focused, setting clear goals and priorities for each aspect of my work.
I also believe that authenticity is key to building a strong and sustainable brand. That means staying true to my creative vision while also being mindful of my audience and their needs. By balancing my artistic impulses with a strategic approach to business, I am able to create a brand that is both meaningful and commercially viable.
Can you describe what a day in your studio look like at the moment?
An average day in my studio starts at 10am after my three little ones are out the door and I’ve finished yoga. I’ll spend my day checking on pieces I’ve thrown the day before, trimming whatever is ready, reclaiming and recycling clay, glazing, and managing the kiln. One of my favorite parts of my job is knowing that every day is different. As soon as I get bored with one part of the process, it’s time to move onto something else.
As someone who works with an earth-based medium, how do you personally relate to the earth – whether that means the environment you live in or the earth at large?
As someone who works with an earth-based medium, my relationship with the earth is integral to my creative process. I am constantly inspired by the natural world around me, from the shapes and textures of stones and minerals to the colors and patterns of plants and landscapes. In a way, my work is a way of paying tribute to the beauty and complexity of the earth.
Beyond that, I also feel a deep sense of responsibility to the environment and the planet as a whole. I believe that as humans, it is our duty to care for and protect the earth, and I try to incorporate sustainable practices into both my personal life and my work. This means sourcing materials ethically and responsibly, reducing waste wherever possible, and minimizing my carbon footprint.
How has your experience of being a mother and finding yourself anew within that experience shaped you and how you see the world?
Becoming a mother changed every aspect of my life (how could it not). Things I once deemed important, I don't give a second thought and vice versa. It's as if becoming a mother gave me a new lens to see life through. It has also taught me many personal lessons along the way - including the importance of self care in the midst of all the beauty and chaos that is having little ones. If it wasn't for the reset that having a family gave me, I don't know that I would have found ceramics in the way that I did.
How has creativity played a role throughout the entirety of your life? What did it look like when you were younger? Did it always mean making something or has creativity been more of a way of doing life?
Creativity has always been a part of my life. My first memories were of my mom constantly creating and making art around me. She was the original Pinterest before such a thing existed. My aunt was also an incredibly gifted ceramicist who taught collegially for many years. Her shapes are still some of my most treasured pieces. With how deeply and quickly I fell in love with pottery, I am sure that it is in my DNA. Art and creativity feels like a part of my genetic make up; it has always been a part of my life.
What is something you hope to inspire in others through your work?
My hope for Mineral Haus is to create moments of connection between people and experiences.
Ultimately, my goal is to create art that is not just beautiful to look at, but that also has a deeper meaning and purpose. Whether it is through the use of sustainable materials, the incorporation of symbolic imagery, or the expression of a particular emotion or idea, I hope that my work can inspire others to think more deeply about their own relationship to the natural world and to each other.
When you think about your creations in the hands of other people, what is it that you envision?
Thinking about my pieces on the table at dinner parties, holiday meals, and (most importantly) as a vessel for morning caffeine, is truly the most humbling thing. I imagine each piece "living their best lives" under the stars during a summer party, being passed through a slew of hands at a holiday gathering or restaurant, and being sipped on during coffee dates. My hope is for each shape to elevate and connect the moment, no matter how big or small.
What is the setting, who are the people, what are they doing, and how are your objects effecting that environment?
The setting is a dreamy summer dinner party with the loud hum of laughter and conversation. The people are those who live busy lives chasing their dreams by day and spend late nights with their close friends and community. Mineral Haus vessels are being passed around person to person as good food and good wine is enjoyed amongst the group.
If you thought of your brand as a smell, sound, taste, and scene, would would it be as each?
Mineral Haus would smell of amber and palo santo, would sound like a stripped down cover of your favorite song, taste familiar but with a unique texture that makes the experience memorable, and as a scene would be the perfect outdoor gathering with tangible energy floating about.
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Find Emilee Martin:
Website: shopmineralhaus.com
Instagram: @mineral.haus
Images courtesy of Emilee Martin.
