Today we’d like to introduce you to Flavio Vela.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Flavio. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My journey with ceramics started when I was studying Industrial Design at UVM in Guadalajara, Mexico. After I graduated my first project was “Volcanis”, a two-piece ceramic flower pot that resembled a small volcano. Around October 2016 I joined Puerta Roja workshop run by my teacher and great artist Gabriela Escárcega in Tijuana, Baja California. Where I learned the basics of ceramics and boosted my confidence to make more elaborated pieces. In 2018 I created Ocote with the intention of showing and selling my ceramic work. Then I had the opportunity to participate in different art shows and local art and crafts bazaars in Tijuana. For me, clay is a noble material which can be transformed in almost anything. Working with this material has taught me to have a great patience. It’s my intention to keep learning more, share what I’ve collected these few years and never stop creating.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I think one of the common struggles is to estimate costs and pricing, you require to have knowledge of the craft and great confidence in your work. In the beginning, I had a partial knowledge of how to work with ceramics. It took me a lot of try and error on finding a comfortable flow of work. It’s very frustrating when one invests time and effort, and then something goes wrong and you have no idea why. Besides, the access to materials and tools specially the kiln, was limited. It all sums to the uncertainty of making one mistake that could ruin a whole production. Another struggle is to create the identity of the brand that has to be in tune with the work done. I’ve always liked to experiment and try new things having the opportunity and that has had me going back and forth with the concept of Ocote.
About art fairs and shows, going alone is hard. To carry the props needed, set it all up and wait the whole day in the booth can be very tiring. At the end of the day not knowing if my work is appreciated is discouraging. Fortunately, there have been many people, mostly family and close friends, who believed and still believe in my work and have had the confidence to acquire one of my pieces, I thank them immensely.
Ocote – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Right now I focus in creating utilitarian ceramics, keeping the form simply gives me the opportunity to experiment with textures and colors. I knew about mold making and 3d design and that’s how I started, but then hand built ceramics opened a new way of work for me. I found something that working with mold casts did not show. The experience of making a unique piece which teaches each time a new lesson. Now I see that every technique has its pros and cons and the mixture of them gives a distinguishable personality to the final product.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Although luck is something, I don’t really pay attention to, when working with clay every step of production has a risk of failure. From sculpting, drying, firing, glazing, firing again, even taking the photos! I admit I’ve broke a couple by accidently dropping them. For me it all centers in creating a plan ahead, be on the expectative and if something fails, let go.
Pricing:
- My prices go from $20 to $60.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ocoteceramica.com
- Email: ocoteceramica@gmail.com
- Instagram: @ocoteceramica
Image Credit:
Photo of the latte cup is from @indigo_cafeteria on instagram.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B5djm7jHljQ/
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