Daily Inspiration: Meet Roy Kunisaki

Today we’d like to introduce you to Roy Kunisaki.

Roy, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My mission is to bridge my Japanese background with a life shaped in California. Inspired by the ocean, mountains, and the coexistence of nature and mankind’s inventions, I express this relationship through ceramic art. I was introduced to ceramics by accident in high school, and my practice grew steadily until I established my studio in 1997 at Angels Gate Cultural Center in San Pedro, a setting that deeply suits my artistic sensibilities.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being a full-time artist is always influenced by the economy, so I continually adjust my strategies to sustain my practice, determine sources of income, and decide the direction my body of work should take. My clients have always been my best audience; observing their responses and how viewers engage with the work has been the most valuable form of critique, helping me refine and define the direction of my career.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am inspired by many things and drawn to a wide range of work, which allows me to remain instinctive, natural, and free to create whatever feels right in the moment—whether over a week, several months, or half a year. I continuously rotate through multiple styles and sources of inspiration, often working on one body of work while mentally developing another. This process gives ideas time to brew while still allowing me to produce; what might seem like procrastination becomes a productive part of my creative practice. My bodies of work include sea life creature sculptures, rock- and boulder-inspired vessels, and an ongoing exploration of simple, beautiful wheel-thrown forms.

.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Working under a master craftsman prepares you to survive in the real world, though today social media has exploded, influencing many of us and offering virtually unlimited resources to learn from.

Pricing:

• $50~$2000

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roykunisaki?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roy.kunisaki.1?mibextid=ZbWKwL
• Other: https://maps.app.goo.gl/RgZW6CtFpssxWeR3A

Image Credits
Photo by
Frank Rodriguez / Roy Kunisaki