About
Elyssa grew up in Connecticut and moved to Maine in 2006 to attend Maine College of Art & Design. She graduated in 2010 with a Bachelor of Fine Art in Ceramics. In 2012 she graduated from Maine College of Art again with a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Art Education. In 2012 she moved Downeast.
Elyssa is currently the K-6 Elementary Art Teacher for MSAD #37. During the summer she works in her pottery studio, The Dusty Moose, in Cherryfield, Maine.
Gallery
Artist Statement
"Post" to me stands for what occurred after. Up until 2018, I hadn't made anything out of clay since 2011. In 2018 I converted the shed off of my home into a tiny studio. Before that, I was busy creating lesson plans for my students and renovating my 150-year-old farmhouse with my husband. Since getting back into making pottery I have started to develop my "Downeast Series". It encapsulates everything good about Downeast Maine.
Downeast Maine (Washington County), is the place that I have landed. It is the northeastern point of Maine. It was the furthest I had ever lived from my family and friends. It had allured me with its beauty and simplicity. There aren’t any big shopping centers or a variety of restaurants. Instead, it offers rivers and lakes that provide fishing and camping for most that live in the county. Downeast has miles and miles of wild blueberry barrens and the “Bold Coast”, where lobster fishermen haul traps to make a living. It also has a wide variety of wildlife including the infamous moose.
For my Downeast Series, I have created a lobster, moose, and fish design. Each design represents moments of my life since moving to Downeast Maine. The Lobster represents my arrival to Downeast. After accepting the Elementary Art teacher position at one of the county’s school districts, I packed up and moved to Winter Harbor, a beautiful coastal town. Every morning I could hear the rumbling of the lobster boats at the wharf, getting ready to go out for the day. I quickly realized that a considerable amount of the people that live Downeast are born and bred lobster fisherman. It is a significant part of the Downeast culture.
The fish design represents peace and serenity offered by Downeast Maine. Whether it be kayaking up one of the rivers or out trying to catch the “Big One” on one of the many lakes. Hours have been spent out on the water, disconnecting from social media and reconnecting with those around me. The water creates zen moments while waiting for the fish to bite. Great conversation is made while observing the loons and spying on the beaver. The water guides you, creates a moment of pause, and replenishes your soul.
The moose motif represents my little family. In 2019 my daughter was born and made us a family of three. Our little family loves to go out and explore what Downeast has to offer. When people think of Maine, they think of lobster or moose. Downeast Maine is fortunate enough to have both. Moose are the ghost of the woods. Spotting a moose can be rare, so seeing one is gratifying.
Functionality plays an important role when deciding what I want to make. I want people to be able to use and enjoy what I have made. I believe that functionality allows the user to have an intimate moment with that piece. I also want my work to be tactile, that is why I carve my designs. The deep carving allows for multiple layers of texture. The carving also requires precision. I throw my work thick so that when I am carving, I’m not taking away too much clay. Carving the clay at the right moment is so important. I draw each design once the clay is firm enough to touch without leaving a mark. I carve the majority of my designs during the “leather-hard” stage of the drying process. That is when carving the clay is like carving chocolate. Once most of the carving is complete. I do the fine details once the clay has almost reached the “bone-dry” stage. That is when all the moisture has evaporated from the clay.
I use cone 6 white stoneware to create my pottery. I like the white stoneware because I believe the white clay helps make the glazes more vibrant. The stoneware is also a great clay body to use while making functional pieces because it’s durable and can withstand daily use. When glazing I brush on multiple layers of glaze. Some areas have one color of glaze and other areas have multiple glazes overlapping.