We met Lara socially before we knew her work, but once we saw her ceramics it all made sense. Her work is generous, rustic, and cozy. It makes one want to curl up with a book and a plate of cookies, and that's certainly what we do.
We sat down with Lara to talk process, origin, and inspiration, delving into the mind of the maker.
What brought you to ceramics?
My parents enrolled me in a ceramics class at a very early age, and I loved it. It was so much fun to create something out of a lump of clay. I stuck with it over the years, and built my own studio when the pandemic caused most of the studios to close down or scale back classes and open studio time.
You like a dose of whimsy in your work. What inspires that?
I do. I have always embraced whimsy. It’s just the way I see the world. One of the first things I ever remember making as a kid was a hedgehog with clay quills that I pushed through a strainer. I have no idea why I made that, but it is a core memory, and I loved that little hedgehog.
My dad was a beekeeper, and it has always intrigued me. I know how important they are to the planet and the food that we eat, so when the opportunity presented itself, I took it. I feel like a forever student keeping bees: they keep me learning and trying new things to make their lives better.
Living in the Hudson Valley, I am constantly meeting incredibly creative people and out of the box thinkers. Whether its friends who are farmers, furniture makers, or knitters, I am always so inspired by the people I meet and interact with on a daily basis. The talent in the Hudson Valley, and accessibility to the makers, is why I love living here and it makes me feel inspired every day.