Hey Mikhaela! Tell us a bit about yourself, and Corner Boy.
In a nut - 26 years old, born and bred in Melbourne, once a corporate girl now living beachside in Sydney. I really am a notorious creative, daydreaming, bubbly, ‘catch me if you can, here one minute and there another’ type of person. Before I’ve finished the first task I’ve started, I’m already a quarter of the way through the next 5 ideas I’ve had thinking ‘ok Mikhaela, let's take this one through to the end this time’. I used to beat myself up about this trait of mine but I’ve come to love it. And you know what? Ceramics and my baby ‘Corner Boy’ was really a savior, it was my happy place where time went unnoticed, a meditative and truly therapeutic activity.
How did you get into ceramics? Can you pin-point where your passion for sculpting began?
My love for ceramics started in my early 20’s nearly 3 years ago. I was going through simultaneous tragedies whilst also coming to the realization that I’d let go of my creativity and got carried away with the party lifestyle. So, I turned to hand sculpting clay, a medium I had used as a young girl but neglected not long after. I remember the exact day, and the specific seat I was sitting on in my family home when I made the decision to get back into my creativity - but stick to it this time. Initially a hobby, friends, family and their extended contacts started enquiring about my pieces which I then moved on to sell. All self taught, I then gained the confidence to go from selling my works to facilitating incursion clay parties. I love the freedom clay gives me. You can literally sculpt whatever shape your heart desires there are no limitations.
I know you choose to hand-build your vessels as opposed to wheel-throwing. How long is your process from start to finish, and what made you choose hand-building?
Oh man, it’s a long process. So wheel throwing was never for me given it’s repetitive nature. I also didn’t like having every piece being symmetrical. I like to go wild with curves, angles and balancing different forms. My process is always the same though. I roll out a base and cut out some sort of circular shape, I then roll and sculpt each layer and decide on the shape as I go - ideas on form come to me as I’m sculpting. I've never really planned how a piece is going to look so the results are always unknown!
What is your studio space like?
At my home in Melbourne I was fortunate enough to have a father who let me push him out of his ‘man cave’ and transform it into my studio which had a kiln that could fit 2 of me in it. But now living in Sydney spending more on rent than I can realistically afford, I’m working from my bedroom floor. I actually love it, sometimes I work on my front patio, sometimes out in the back garden, infront of the TV, up on the Coogee hill - wherever I feel on the day really. Need a chiropractor though…
Who is your favourite sculptor, or artist that inspires you?
I admire many sculptures, too many to mention but I choose to never get inspiration from other sculptures because I don’t like to be easily influenced by the same mediums. It's not the way I like to be creative. I get inspiration from buildings and sceneries I pass, even little things like a really unique shaped puddle I walk past on the path it really comes from wherever. I also like to combine these abstract forms I see and try to make each piece functional. I’m working on a vessel that doubles as a bedside table at the moment which I’m so excited to fire!
Tell us a bit about your Clay Play program, and how that came to be.
I launched ‘Clay Play’ in March 2021 when I believed there wouldn’t be anymore lockdowns in Melbourne… There were 5 since that time. In between the lockdowns I facilitated birthday parties, corporate team-building events and private social gatherings at the clients desired location. What sets my business apart from others is that I bring all the equipment to you. What brings me joy is seeing how much joy it brings to those getting involved. I do like to emphasize the fact that these aren’t to learn the ins and outs of building, its more an alternative activity to host for guests. A great way to break the ice and a wholesome yet playful activity.
What do you hope to do with Corner Boy in the near future?
My dream is to design furniture. I have a little book I like to scribble in now and again and hope to turn these scribbles into fruition sooner rather than later but patience is a virtue i keep telling myself…