Today we’d like to introduce you to Lara Diaz.
Lara, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’ve been doing ceramics for about 10 years. Since I was young I’ve always been creative and my dream job was always to be an artist. I would jump from illustrating, painting, graphic design, jewelry design and on and on in different mediums.
In college, I was studying art in advertising and most of the classes I was taking were computer based. I personally felt a disconnect between creating a computer screen and was looking for something more tangible. Someone suggested a ceramics class to fill an elective and that kind of changed everything for me.
I feel everything I made then was really rough, but just the ability to be able to create functional objects with my hands felt like magic. I moved to Boston from NY with intentions of going back to school to study either jewelry or ceramic design but instead felt pulled by practicality & went to culinary school with a focus on pastry and baking.
Throughout working for a few years in pastry/cake decorating I always wanted to spend all my time creating at the studio. When I wasn’t working I was at the studio and when I was working that’s constantly where my mind was! I continued working at a local studio (Feet of clay in Brookline Village) as an intern and then a member.
I spent as much time as I could at the studio just making things for myself and friends/family but never thought I could make a real career of it. Two years ago a longtime member of the studio suggested being a part of the studio sale to see how it felt. I did really well and from there wanted to focus all my energy on creating and trying to sell.
I continued doing local markets and putting my work on social media and creating as much as I could and everything kind of had a domino effect beyond what I could ever have expected as shops starting reaching out to me for wholesale/orders. I’m now selling in shops and local markets, as well as opening up a new local ceramic studio with 5 other creative women!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It hasn’t! I’m not sure creating a business for pursuing a dream ever is though? A big struggle has been time and money. Living in a city isn’t cheap and trying to balance multiple jobs & working on your own art and grow a business is hard! I think I’ve recognized I need to constantly work on creating a schedule and carving out time for specific things in my life.
It’s definitely something that wavers from day to day and week to week and is a constant work in progress! Being resourceful with time and money is another thing I’ve learned along the way. The amazing community of friends and family I’ve grown at my current studio has helped me in many ways including a strong source of support and encouragement.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with CECILIA east / west – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
My business is CECILIA east / west. I make functional ceramic pieces for your home! My work is fresh & modern as well as rustic and kind of earthy. While I love throwing on the wheel – most of my work is done by hand building which I feel allows a special individuality and difference in each piece.
I love to explore color but also choose and focus on earthy, vibrant clay bodies and playing between glaze & clay. Things that look & feel very handmade are what I love and are part of my voice as a maker. I love fingerprints, indentations, uneven edges- small details that are organic I try to lean into more because they feel like a special connection between my process and the person receiving the piece.
I’m grateful and proud that I’m able to make pieces that feel like my true self and that they’re so well received and loved. The feeling of someone else connecting to something that I create is magical! Being able to create pieces I love and sell them has been beyond expectation- & now being able to create and open a studio space to pursue that on a larger scale is a dream. I’m grateful for every part of this process and where it’s led me.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Currently, I’m continuing to grow my business- hoping to pursue more wholesale and new projects this year as well as carve out more time for exploration of new ideas. The biggest thing that’s happening now is I’m opening a ceramic studio with 5 other women from my previous studio.
My studio gave me a space to create and learn but because there are so many members and limits on space I couldn’t continue to produce there. It was a good thing though because it gave me the push to take a big jump and create my own space – which really is a dream come true.
The new space is a place where we are coming together to maintain a working ceramic studio, but have our spaces to work independently and continue to grow as artists. It’s definitely still in progress but there are plans for space for a few members, as well as workshops and open studios!
Contact Info:
- Address: 25 Andem Place Brookline Village MA
- Website: www.ceciliaeastwest.com
- Email: hello@ceciliaeastwest.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oh_hi_cecilia/
Image Credit:
Jess Simes
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