More than just ‘throwing the wheel’
12/6/2023
As Caroline Freese throws wet clay on her pottery wheel, her hands work quickly, molding a bowl and smoothing out the rough edges. It’s the first of many steps before the final piece — a pet food bowl — is ready.
Freese’s studio, Caroline Freese Designs, is located outside of Indianola. As a multimedia artist, she also paints and applies digital imagery on her pottery.
“I don’t say I’m an artist. It’s easier to say I’m a potter,” she explains.
She creates functional pottery, which is used in everyday life, such as kitchen bowls, cups, pet food bowls and more.
A unique part of her craft is applying her painted images on the outside of her pottery. She paints nature scenery, but her favorite subject is animals, including dogs and cats.
Freese grew up on a farm with a love of animals. Her two black cats give her inspiration.
“Animals are a big part of what I do,” she says. “I always make my pottery about the animals.”
In college, Freese liked ceramics and art but felt pressure to pick a major. After taking pottery, painting and drawing classes, she was hooked.
“I didn’t throw on a wheel until my junior year in college,” she recalls.
As she was unsure of a career, she and her mother visited New York for spring break, and she considered an artist residency. A professor suggested she meet up with an ISU alum, Jonathan Castro, a potter who sells his work in New York.
“After I connected with Jonathan, I knew that I wanted to make and sell stuff. It was fulfilling my passion and making money,” she explains.
Caroline graduated from ISU and joined CASA, Creative Artists’ Studio of Ames, sharing equipment with other creatives. She initially worked out of her home until 2022.
Her parents owned property, which was a former hog farm. Her dad, who recently retired, wanted to construct a shop where he could build farm and livestock-related items. He suggested that Caroline set up a studio and shop in a portion of the building for her pottery business.
Freese is grateful for her parents’ support. The setup includes sunny spots, with climate control, as the kiln temps are extremely hot.
“A lot of potters end up in the basement or garage,” she says. “This location is ideal. My parents supported my passion.”
Making pottery is labor intensive. There’s more steps than just “throwing the wheel.” The process includes glazing, imagery application, drying, kiln work and more.
“I’m not doing the same thing every day. It’s rewarding to see everything that I’ve made with the final piece.”
The most challenging aspect is maintaining the business portion for her artwork.
“I have to do everything. I’m my own boss, take care of administrative work, plus have a creative mind. I need to be a handyman to fix equipment,” she says. “And then, I go out and try to sell my items.”
The flexibility and creativity of making it her own is why she creates the art.
“I like attending shows to get the feedback,” she reflects. “That’s why I do the shows — to see how others respond to my work.”
For more inspiration, visit www.carolinefreesedesigns.com, or Instagram Caroline Freese Designs. ♦
