I’m thrilled to be sharing this interview of Chloe May Brown about her ceramic work. We have a collection of her pieces at Personify Shop (email me for more info) and I have loved working with her. I love how the pieces are both whimsical and graphic at the same time. Chloe lives with her cat in Portland, Maine and also works as a designer at the dreamy shop More & Co.

1. How did you get started making ceramics?

A handful of years ago I fell in love with a ceramic necklace. I treated myself and I wore it almost every day. It was wildly inspiring for me, so simple, but beautiful and it quickly became a part of my everyday life. I wanted to be able to create something that had that ability to integrate into another’s life. I started to experiment with clay and fell in love with making pinch pots. I loved the control that I had over the clay with just my fingers. I have been working in clay ever since.

2. How would you describe your aesthetic?

My aesthetic is simple, natural, and fun. It is important to me that in each piece you can find signs of where my fingers have shaped the clay. My pieces are imperfect and at times a bit wonky, each one is unique.

3. What’s your favorite thing about your job?

I love that everyday I am able to do a bit of what I love. I can get my hands dirty and play with a ball of clay. It is a dream.

4. What’s your least favorite?

It can be difficult for me to separate my personal life from my work life. They so seamlessly flow into one another at times. I try to keep my work at my studio, but inevitably it comes home with me. My mind is always running around with thoughts of work tied together with my week’s grocery list. I have to pause, step back, and take time to just do nothing. That can be hard for me to do.

5. Business Advice?

Oh gosh, I feel that the best advice that I can give is to do what you love. It sounds simple, but it can be so difficult.  If there is something that you truly love to do, and you want to make a go at it, stick with it. Make sure that you would still be doing it if money was not a factor. Finding happiness in my work has been such a large factor in any success I have had.

6. My favorite party question: If you could hang out with any three people this Friday night, who would you pick?

If I could, I would spend this Friday night with my parents. We would pack a picnic and eat it by the ocean. It would be magic for me.

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So there you have it! High fives for Chloe and her beautiful work.