Ceramic Artist Beth Hatlen Elliott On The Importance Of Bravery And Drawing Inspiration From Legos And Tattoos

What have you seen lately that’s been inspiring?

Oh so much, I wouldn’t even know where to begin. Even though it has a myriad of negative aspects to it, the internet gives us the ability to see the work of people all over the world. I’m old enough to remember when you had to go to the library or watch PBS to get perspectives from people that were outside your personal bubble. In these times of political, social and climate upheaval it’s so great to see kind, thoughtful and brave people around the world standing up for what is right and good.

Who is the one person, living or dead, in your profession who you most admire?

I honestly couldn’t name just one.  I’m inspired and influenced by artists of many mediums and that list changes all the time. Currently there is a Lego artist named Ekow Nimako whose work blows my mind. Lego you say?! Yes Lego! There’s the amazing work of French ceramic artist Anne-Laure Charlier. Her work just delights me. I’m in awe of Laura Boswell,  a UK printmaker whose prints look like watercolor paintings and her use of light is superb. The pure talent of NZ tattoo artist Makkala Rose just floors me. There are countless ceramic artists, potters, painters, printmakers, illustrators, and tattoo artists that inspire me every day. I have so much to learn and feel so privileged to have such great artists to look to both locally and around the world.

 What are you excited about now?

This year so many of the shows and fairs we all had been looking forward to have been cancelled. However there are still a few opportunities on the horizon for me as an artist. I’m moving away from color in my work and concentrating on black and white, exploring negative space and both visual and tactile textures. I’ve been creating new work that I’m excited to get out into galleries and at least one show still this year.

What do you know now that you wish you’d known when you were 22?

I wish I’d been more brave. I wish I’d not felt the need to “get a ‘real’ job” and instead had plowed head first into being an artist. Sometimes I wonder where my level of craft would be if I’d had done just that. But I don’t regret the path I’ve taken as everything I’ve learned working in design, illustration, glass, metal (even architecture school) informs what I do today.

What would you do (or pursue) if money were no object?

I would still be an artist, can’t imagine being anything else. But if money were no object I’d expand my space and time to do more work. I would love to work and live somewhere in the woods among the trees and near a creek. Peace and quiet, wind and the rustle of leaves. I’d build a big studio and a little house. I don’t need much space to live in but I’d love a huge space to work in so I could expand the scale of my work and bring metal work and glass to my ceramics.

 

 

Elliott’s swirl vase group.

Beth Hatlen Elliott creates handmade, original ceramic artwork. While she’s an emerging ceramic artist, her background as an illustrator and fine artist working in metal and glass informs her ceramic work.

Her work has been seen at 50 on 50th, Seasons on St. Croix, Home & Hearth, Artistry and at artist invitation only shows. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Moorhead State University. View her work on Instagram or her website.