Joanna Craig
olimclayco
My Featured Work:
My Story
”I think art is a practice as much as any other skill, so experimenting is really important in my work.”
My name is Joanna Craig and I make nature-inspired polymer clay jewelry and accessories.
When I was growing up I made a lot of art, as many kids do, but that practice took a back burner as I got older. I went to college for Behavioral Biology and didn’t create much during that time. I found a love for teaching and spent a few years after college working in early education, where I was able to work more with my hands on small arts and crafts projects. During the pandemic, I watched as polymer clay jewelry became a phenomenon, and I was immediately attracted to the accessibility of this material. As soon as I began working with it I immediately fell in love with the tactile nature of polymer clay and its ability to transform into any imaginable creation, and I quickly fell back into the rhythm of creating art that I had when I was younger.
Growing up in Manhattan meant I did not have much nature to explore nearby, which made it even more important for me to experience the natural world whenever I could. I love to travel and explore the outdoors, and many of the colors, patterns and textures I incorporate into my art are pulled from photographs from these adventures. I gravitate towards more muted and neutral tones in my work to reflect the colors you would find in nature, such as beige hues for sand, deep greens for forests, and pale blues for the sky. To bring my work even closer to nature I often use Latin terms and words to name my pieces, since these words carry with them more weight and meaning than equivalent English words.
Something that always motivates me to keep making art is experimentation. I am constantly searching for new techniques to try or new ways to improve upon my methods. It is common for people to separate art and technical skills into two different categories, but I find that there is so much technical work that goes into making art. Art is as much a product of practice, trial and error, and a willingness to think on your feet as any other skill. This theme of learning and testing is very important to my work since ideas don’t always come to life as you had hoped to on the first try.
An obstacle I have faced is integrating making art with running a business. It can be challenging to find a balance between creating what is important and meaningful to me, and also creating something that resonates with other people so strongly that they will spend their hard-earned money on it. I always aim to stay true to my love of nature and simpler styles, rather than prioritizing trends or making something just because I think it will sell successfully.
While I do want people to buy my products, I don’t necessarily equate my success as an artist to sales and monetary success. It is just as meaningful when people express how much they like my pieces, or find them unique, as when they make a purchase. That type of exchange is still important and valuable even if it is not bringing any monetary gain at that exact moment. There is a difference between making products that everyone likes, and making art that some people love. I would always prefer to fall in the latter category.
It takes some time for my ideas to simmer before I can bring them to life, so I often end up creating new designs at night. My physical workspace is important to the process, and despite my attempts to keep it organized and clean, it is usually pretty messy. It is a small space, so it can be helpful to clean up and put things away before trying to sit down and create. Then I can better choose what I am working with and what tools I’ll use during a session.
The most impactful part of my work is having my art resonate with someone. I make a lot of birch tree-inspired jewelry, and people will get excited when they see a piece and realize what the design is supposed to be. A customer once told me they used to have birch trees in their backyard growing up, so they purchased a pair of Birch Bark Dangles because the memory of those trees was so special to them and their family. My ultimate goal is for my art to connect with my customers, giving them a way to express their love for the outdoors, remember a favorite experience, or prepare themselves for their next great adventure.
Keep exploring,
Joanna