Laura Zindel
[1985, Ceramics]
Based in Brattleboro, VT
Laura Zindel’s RISD Craft Gallery
Laura Zindel is an artist and designer who combines her passion for ceramics and naturalist illustration into unique housewares. Her work integrates techniques from the Arts & Crafts movement with modern industrial design practices and decorative arts inspired by the natural world.
A ceramist by training, Laura has always loved to draw with a pencil. Her initial drawings on the surface of clay with a glaze pencil ultimately led her to the transfer process. Her drawings are now silk screened and printed as enamel transfers on a wide variety of tableware pieces from platters to mugs. Her work is hand made in her studio in Brattleboro, Vermont.
What are some of the most important practices for your creative process?
Problem solving is an everyday thing. Clay is a material that doesn’t always do what you expect it to do. I have a studio now where I work with other artisans during every step of our process. There is always something new happening and we all work together as a team and I rely on all of them to use their talents to achieve what we do. We are always learning something new and trying to figure it all out. The thing that I value the most in my personal process is quiet time. It is hard for everyone to come by and when I don’t get enough of it, the creative process can shut down. I think it is important to let your mind have time to be able to wander where it needs to go.
How does your current creative practice tie into your time spent at RISD?
My current work is a progression from all of the work that I did while at RISD. I was a ceramic major and.. I took a lot of drawing classes. I didn’t actually combine the two processes until much later, but everything you do inspires what you do next. My ceramic work at RIDS was hand built and narrative. I have always loved low fire glazes and working with the surface of clay. I spent a lot of time making molds, mixing glazes and learned how to make my first ceramic transfers. I always thought of drawing as a side job as a student but now I am glad that I found a way to combine the two things that I love the most. The exposure I had at RISD to so many artists that shared their knowledge, techniques and different style of working with us as students is what I carry with me everyday.
Tell us about some of your main sources of inspiration.
Nature is my main inspiration. I feel like there will never have enough time to draw everything in the world that I find curious. I choose something that presents a challenge for me to draw like a new texture that I haven’t tried or things in the natural world that have a form or pattern to explore. Because I make tableware I look at what is going on in my industry. I also love fashion. I am not that fashionable but I find that fashion inspires and has an influence on almost everything that we use, put in our homes and want around us everyday. I read a lot of books, and I rip a lot of pages out of magazines..they litter my house.
My main goal is garnish the surfaces of everyday objects so that they will wind up in someone’s home and make them happy.
Is there a work/body of work that you are particularly excited about sharing with us at RISD Craft this year?
I just finished a Coastal Collection. It took me more than a year to complete. I found that I just couldn’t stop…I really don’t think it is complete, but I had to stop somewhere. I was inspired by so many experiences I have had by the ocean. I can’t remember a time in my life when being by the water was not the end goal. Spending time by the water with my family and friends is always where I am the happiest.
Any recent press, exhibitions, achievements or awards you’d like to share with us?
This July we opened a showroom for the trade at the Americasmart in Atlanta. We have partnered with JK Adams, another family established Vermont company that makes wood cutting boards. We are very excited to bring our companies together and proud to both make handmade products in Vermont.
Anything else you’d like to share?
I am really looking forward to being at RISD Craft. It is always wonderful to be back in Providence. I love how much the city has changed and stayed the same over the years. Providence was a construction zone when I was a student in the 80’s. Now the canals are open and it is such a beautiful place and it continues to be one of the best places to eat and see music and art. I am also hoping to reconnect with old friends and to see some current students that that are the children of my favorite alumni.
