Artist Spotlight: Marret Metzger

About Marret

Since I was a little kid, I’ve always wanted to be an artist. I went to a small high school in Northern Indiana where I was lucky enough to take my first ceramics class. I enrolled at Ball State University in 2015 with a concentration in glass and ceramics. In March of 2023 I dove straight into being a self-employed artist, selling my work online, through galleries, and at juried art fairs. I completed an 8- week residency with Red Lodge Clay Center, and I am currently in a one-year artist residency at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts.

MARRET'S PORTFOLIO & STORE

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

Marret: I love to watch and observe my surroundings, taking in all the colors and sounds of my environment. A friend once described me as an “awe” chaser, like a storm chaser but for moments of wonder that quiet my mind. I love to watch and observe my surroundings, taking in all the colors and sounds of my environment. Growing up I spent a lot of time playing in my grandparents’ woods and helping in the garden. Looking closely at the petal of an iris and how it shimmers, or the fluttering of a hummingbird’s wings is enchanting to me.

AMACO: What is your favorite AMACO product and why?

Marret: V-361 Jet Black is a staple in my work. I use it to reference the ink on a wood cut print. I also love the Celadon series, after I started working for myself, I didn’t have any space to mix my own glazes. These celadons are a brighter option than a traditional celadon, and I love how dependable they are.

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

Marret: It takes time to be really good at anything. Keep practicing, and practicing, and practicing. If you are struggling to find your own voice, I would suggest getting off social media and making lists of what you love and why. There will be patterns there, your job is to identify them and grow them into something that is uniquely you!