Today we’d like to introduce you to Donna DeSoto.
Donna, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
Although I have an eclectic background, at the heart of it, I am a designer. I have designed fabric and clothing and ran my own handbag design and manufacturing company. I am also a teacher and have designed educational programs, content and workshops for students and teachers for classroom and online formats. I love that what I make has a positive impact on people’s lives.
I was born in Brooklyn and grew up in New York. I lived and worked in Manhattan forever – it is an exciting and wonderful city. But, in 2013, I felt it was time for a fresh perspective. I packed up and headed to L.A. to be closer to family and to focus on my ceramics practice which I had started as a hobby in NY.
I love L.A. – it is a burgeoning artistic center with multi-cultural flavors and so much natural beauty.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I use porcelain and stoneware to make functional wheel-thrown and hand-built pottery.
The work is inspired by the world we live in, including both the natural and the designed. I am strongly influenced by the how the textures, shadows and shapes of plant life and geography interact to create the background, “noise” and surface.
The palette and shapes I use in my work are developed as families–they can be organized into flexible groupings that relate to and enhance one another. The pieces are functional and are intended to become part of daily life, but they are also designed as stand-alone objects to be seamlessly integrated into the environment.
My artistic vision is continually evolving within my practice and the framework of our world, but it is always intended to reflect a clear and clean design aesthetic that is hopefully both contemporary and timeless.
Do you have any advice for other artists? Any lessons you wished you learned earlier?
My son told me that one of the most important things I told him is that you get good at what you practice! Practicing your art/craft on a regular basis is key to developing skill and mastery.
That being said, it is important sometimes to take a break to recharge and to bring a fresh perspective to your work. Check out the work of artists who work in different disciplines. Look at works from the ancient past. Take a day-trip to a historical site or take a walk through a historic neighborhood.
Be sure to have business cards with a beautiful photo of your work and your name, website and social media addresses to share. Have current photos of your work you can email to potential clients and folks interested in seeing your work.
Collaborate. Artists can work together to have pop-up shows and sales as well as establish and run brick and mortar and/or online galleries.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
My work is available at several venues:
– Visit The Gibson Showroom at 7350 Beverly Blvd., LA, CA 90036 and ask Gary or Holt to show you my lamps, vases and accent pieces https://garygibson.com/wordpress/
– Check out Still Life Ceramics at ROW DTLA, 767 S Alameda Street #198, LA, CA 90021 and tell Ana and Mel I sent
– barrio.la – Jen and Rick make very special gift boxes and offer carefully curated LA-sourced products including my pieces at https://barrio.la/
– Instagram: Follow me to see new pieces and hear about upcoming events and sales. You can always email me if you see a piece you are interested in purchasing.
– Max Bone offers my pet bowls in three styles at 118 S. Robertson, LA, CA 90048 and online at https://www.max-bone.com/ or https://www.max-bone.com/collections/new-arrivals-dog/products/harper-porcelan-bowl
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.desotoceramics.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: donnadesoto
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
