Artist Spotlight: Dani Pugel

About Dani

"Like many artists, I started drawing, writing, and doing other creative things very early in childhood. I encountered clay for the first time in a 3d art class in high school (18ish years ago) and I have to say, I don't think I was ever like "I am going to be an artist and sell art because I make beautiful work." I became an artist because I just can't stop thinking, making, and playing around with materials. Not to mention I want to put my hands in the slop bucket for the rest of my life..."​

Explore Dani Pugel's Work

Q: What inspires your work or keeps you excited in the studio?
A: "In all different veins of my work- functional, sculptural, multimedia, etc- I am always inspired by color and experimentation. I gather a lot of my inspiration simply by trying new things in the studio or walking around outside with my daughter. I also find a great deal of inspiration in children's books (especially at the library), thrift stores (so many patterns and colors!), and talking about my practice and goals with my therapist."

Q: What is your favorite AMACO product and why?​
A: "It's hard to pick just one, I have several go-to glazes and underglazes from AMACO... I think I'd say the Baby Blue Glaze from the High Fire series or High Fire-9 Zinc Free Clear. It's the only clear I've found so far that doesn't have any surface imperfections- I trust it!"

Q: Any advice you'd give to someone just starting out with clay?
A: "SSSLLLLOOOOOOOW DOWWWWWNNNN. This is not a race, and other ceramicists are not your competition. Clay is a beautiful material to spend your life with and it is so much more than the money you can make selling work or teaching. Over the course of the last 18 years or so, I spent so many years rushing and trying to "do the best" or "achieve" something when really I should have looked around and relaxed more because the studio is such a wonderful place to be."

Q: Where can people find your work?
A: "Right now I operate exclusively through Instagram (@doonipagooni) as far as marketing/sharing artwork goes.
​I sell pottery at a few different places around Indianapolis and participate in many vendor/studio shows and sales throughout the year. I have a goal to create a website for myself in the next few years, whenever the time feels right!"