Artist Spotlight: Grace Juneau

About Grace

"I have always been a creative person, but fell in love with clay while taking an intro to ceramics class in my sophomore year at Skidmore College. Once I learned the way clay functions and the sort of “rules” that come with working in ceramics, I was hooked. I graduated with a degree in ceramics in 2020 and began selling my small-scale artworks in 2021 under the moniker Snail Girl Ceramics. What once started as a silly college nickname became a mentality. To be a Snail Girl is to embrace yourself in all hues, find home in the tiny worlds under rocks and in tide pools, and witness nature’s beauty at the Earth’s pace."

Snail Girl Ceramics

Q: What inspires your work or keeps you excited in the studio? 

A: "Spending time outside always makes me itch to get back in the studio. So much of my work is inspired by the world around me - particularly birds. Going outside, even for 10 minutes, with a pair of binoculars and a healthy level of curiosity almost always brings ideas to mind. I carry a little notebook with me at all times to jot down ideas that I can later explore with clay when I’m back at the studio."

Q: What is your favorite AMACO product and why?

A: "AMACO Velvet Underglazes are unmatched! I have every color and use each of them - but my absolute “ride-or-die” products are the Red Brown, Pearl Gray, Ivory Beige, and of course Jet Black velvet underglazes."

Q: Any advice you'd give to someone just starting out with clay? 

A: "Don’t be discouraged by the “error” in “trial and error”. I have a personal studio rule that if the first version of something doesn’t come out right, I have to make a second before I scrap the idea. Almost always, the second iteration is infinitely more successful! Similar to making pancakes - the first one is always the worst!"

Where can people find your work?
"You can find me on Instagram at @snailgirlceramics or check out my website: snailgirlceramics.com."