Cactus & Clay Ceramics
Action creates clarity. The quote that has been most essential to Beth’s journey this past year. Like most creatives, Beth has had artistic outlets for as long as she can remember, but her art was always for her. How many of us can remember the first time we picked up a paintbrush, marker, pen, crayon, and drew something we were proud to show someone for the first time?
Sometimes we forget that that proudness was coming from ourselves, that excitement we had was for ourselves. As we grow older and find ourselves contemplating sharing our creations with the world again, we might find ourselves a little bit more hesitant this time around. We may become suddenly paralyzed at the thought of others thinking our work isn’t good enough, then we start to believe we aren’t good enough. That is just what Beth found herself met with. Then hearing those words ‘action creates clarity’ flipped a switch in her brain. Beth is a talented ceramics artist living in a tucked away rural corner of the Pacific Northwest, and she honestly couldn’t see herself living anywhere else. Beth’s business, Cactus & Clay Ceramics, began in an organic way. During the day Beth works as a respiratory therapist and has worked in the field for almost a decade. I can’t imagine how mentally and physically exhausting that job can become. Beth explained to me how she is most often called to action in the hardest of situations. With this, pottery has become a therapy for her over the years. Helping her decompress from her everyday hospital duties. Beth loves how pottery demands absolute focus and control. Not only can she find herself in a meditative state, but she also is allowed to pour her feelings into her creations. After posting her ceramics journey here and there online, she was surprised at people's interest in her creations. It seemed to her they were not just stopping by to purchase her creations, but to also learn about her process. When I asked Beth about finding motivation, she confessed that she finds so much love within her craft just as it is, that that is all she really needs. First and foremost it’s become her own form of not only self expression, but self care. That’s not to say that the side of running her ceramics business doesn’t need an extra push every now and then.
I think we can all relate to that. I know that I can. For Beth it’s realizing she can connect to something bigger than herself. Using art to make an impact in her community. Ten percent of profits are donated to The Coffee Oasis, a local non-profit that provides shelter, food, school supplies and job training for at-risk youth in Pierce and Kitsap County. Once the process of creating the ceramics itself is complete. The genuine expression of Beth’s work doesn’t end there. She is passionate about running her business responsibly as well. All the shipping supplies are made from 100% recycled materials and are backyard compostable. At the studio, low-waste practices have been put in place as well as becoming single-use plastic free.
“Connecting issues I care about to my skill set in this way is so fulfilling and acts as an anchor point for my art and my business.”
Get your issue of CREATEUR Zine today to read Beth’s full article!
Winter Issue 3
Our 3rd issue is here! This winter’s issue focuses on the theme ‘Luminescence’ and asks the question of how we can be the light in our own darkness. This issue features local Seattle artists Autumn Swindahl of Two Birds Eco Shop, Beth Gordon of Cactus & Clay Ceramics, and Loalynda of PaperBirds Studio with a special additional spread from our resident blogger Nevermind Nat! Special thanks to our sponsors at Bear Bones Agency! We hope you enjoy our largest issue yet, with more fun interactive spreads and downloads than ever before!
