Artist Highlight: Erica Davidson
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Erica Davidson
Making Waves: Demonstrating Artist
Making Waves is a ceramics-focused series of events that Rain City Clay facilitates at Jellyfish Brewing Company.
This year, Erica Davidson and Ryan McDonald will be demonstrating simultaneously. Come enjoy watching two artists share their clay techniques. The ceramic process is mesmerizing!
Join us! Saturday, June 28th: 2-5pm, 2025
Erica Davidson’s Bio:
Erica Davidson is a ceramic artist in Bellingham, Washington. She creates handmade ceramic vessels and focuses on surface design that is inspired by the cycles of the natural world, folk tales, block printing, and botany; and enjoys the physicality of translating her inner life into functional vessels.
Get to know Erica!
If you had to pick one piece of yours to represent you artistic style, which would it be, and what makes it special to you?
I would probably choose a mug with bleeding hearts carved on it. I like making mugs because I like being able to share my art in a way that is easy to interact and connect with. I think that ritual is really important and drinking your morning cup of something warm and enlivening is such a cool way to be able to share my art with my community.
What are your inspirations or influences when making work?
I am inspired by my background in botany and herbalism as well as folk art and art nouveau. I like to travel and get a lot of inspiration from different clay cultures around the world and learn about traditional ways of making and using pottery.
How long have you been working with clay?
My first ceramics class was in high school followed by a year in college while I was studying environmental science…then I took a twenty year break and got back into it 4 years ago.
When do you feel most inspired?
I get so much inspiration from being out in the natural world, traveling and being exposed to other peoples art so I try to absorb all of that and when I get back to my studio, translate it into new vessels. I’ve been going to NCECA the last few years and that has been such a cool and inspiring place to see so much ceramic art in such a dense period of time, I’m always excited to get back to my studio and see what comes out.
Is there something you’ve wanted to try making that you’ve never made before or haven’t made in a long time?
I’d like to try making some masks.
What is your favorite part of the clay process?
I love so many different parts of the process that it’s hard to pick! Throwing is fun and challenging while surface design feels like the part where my thoughts are laid down on the clay. I have also really enjoyed learning how to build and fire kilns.
What advice would you give to Erica 10 years ago?
10 years ago I was raising babies! I would say that eventually, those babies will be able to walk, then run, then dress themselves, then go to school…then, then you will have time to yourself to start making art again. The road is long and twisting and beautiful and terrible and will lead you to deeper moments of appreciation and creation than you could have thought possible before.
If your work was a musical genre, what would it be?
It would be old folk music with lots of beautiful harmony singing.
Do you like to listen to music or podcasts in the studio? If so, do you have a playlist or favorite musician, or show you'd like to share?
Yes, I listen to music all day! My current favorite is Hermanos Gutiérrez.
What is your favorite tool?
My fingers! Second best is my diamond core FP1 which I use for almost all of my carving.
What is your favorite glaze/glaze combo/surface decorating technique/material?
My favorite glaze is my gold shino that I colored with wild clay from the Sauk river. It turns golden and shiny and beautiful in our soda kiln. My favorite surface design technique is a combo of sgraffito and glaze inlay.
How do you push through creative blocks?
I find that when I feel blocked, I still come to the studio and work and eventually I will start making something that I like. Just the act of creating even when I don’t feel like it can lead to new designs and ideas. I also like to do several variations on a theme so often I will just make something I have made before and see if making small changes in the design allow something new and exciting to come through. I also like to keep a list of ideas in my phone that I can add to when I’m out and about and then reference it when I’m feeling stuck in my studio.
Can you share a “happy accident” moment during your clay journey where an unexpected outcome turned into a unique and exciting element in your artwork?
I have learned so much experimenting with atmospheric firing techniques like soda and woodfiring that at the beginning, they all felt like happy accidents! I like to take lots of notes right after we unload so that I can use them as a reference when I’m getting ready for my next firing.
What valuable lessons have you learned along your artistic journey that you wish you knew when you first began?
That it’s ok to fail over and over instead of trying to make perfect work from the beginning. You learn so much by taking risks and build resilience with failing in a safe environment.
If your clay creations could talk, what do you think they would say to you?
Hold me in your hands and put your lips to my lips!