Sculpting an Inspiration

 When Emily Lowry thinks of her art, she thinks of the warmth in her arms and the joy in her heart as she pulls her work out of the kiln.

A small teapot is her most recent triumph. She recalls examining the embellishments of gray bunny rabbits chasing each other around the ceramic base and the dandelions swaying on the pot’s lid.

“It’s like having a favorite song: it changes,” Lowry ponders aloud as she considers which of her creations she likes the most. “I was making stuff to sell, and I decided to just keep that one.”

Her other finished pieces appear in a campus art sale where students’ eyes catch on a shelf filled with unique art. Cheerful animal faces smile up from mugs, and everything from tiny clay houses to plates to jewelry awaits eager shoppers.

In her final semester at the University of North Texas, studio art major Emily Lowry pushes the bounds of her talent and explores her creativity. Lowry began at UNT with a concentration in drawing and painting and a fear of the financial insecurity often accompanying being an artist. Through her ceramics classes, she realized she had a passion for sculpting and decided to pursue a dual concentration in drawing and painting and ceramics despite her economic worries.

“In the beginning, I was concerned with the whole starving artist stereotype, and my parents were worried about it too,” Lowry recalls.

Seeing other artists support themselves through their work encouraged Lowry to persevere with her passion.

By using a technique called underglaze, which she learned in a form and functions class, Lowry can use both of her concentrations by painting detailed images on the pottery she creates.

“I bought some [underglaze paints], and I thought, ‘this is it,’ because I can combine my drawing and painting background with ceramics,” Lowry says.

Lowry is currently implementing this technique in her senior ceramics project as she aims to tell stories through plates. Round and colorful, their faces depict characters in the style of Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit books. One of these plates uses pandas to represent the complicated relationship between a mother and daughter and, Lowry says, “is probably the most emotional piece” she has ever made.

To her peers, Lowry’s meticulous craftsmanship is what sets her work apart.

“She’s been a huge inspiration in my own work, as seeing her put so much time and effort into creative detail helped me see the value in the little aspects of every piece,” says Brooke Dowler, former coworker and friend of Lowry’s.

Lowry sells her work around Denton, on campus and through her social media accounts. Her products include everything from hand-painted mugs of animals in love to colorful jewelry made to make a statement.

“I make earrings that are kind of a ‘subtle pride,’ which is a bit of an oxymoron,” Lowry says, laughing to herself.

 The combination of colors Lowry uses in her earring collection quietly imply different LGBTQ pride flags.

“You can show who you are and not be ashamed even in those spaces where you can’t be fully out, comfortable and safe,” Lowry explains, smiling.

One of Lowry’s favorite parts of working independently is her freedom to choose what she makes and sells. She finds artists online who sculpt to the beat of their own drums inspire her the most, both as a creator and a salesperson.

“They are doing what I aspire to do: create their work and sell it,” Lowry says. “I don’t need to cater to anyone. It’s just art that I enjoy making.”

After graduating, Lowry will work with art restoration, refurbishing older or damaged art pieces in museums and collections; however, she hopes to continue selling her ceramic work.

“I wanted to use my degree in a job, and maybe eventually I’ll have my business grow to slowly move on to that,” Lowry says. “As long as I can just make work and sell it or put it in museums, I’ll be happy.”

Her success brings Lowry back to her worries at the beginning of her college journey. Her fears of being a starving artist have melted away in the heat of the kiln as her craft solidifies.

Lowry laughs contently and says, “I felt a calling to go with the arts because it’s something I’ve been doing my entire life, and I knew I could never get tired of it.”