Based on a California wildfire. Ceramic tile painting. 2026.
This spring, I visited my dear friend and fellow artist, Mercedes Autumn, in Florida. We previously collaborated on the 2018 "Gold Fire Mug" series, which was a wonderful success, and I was eager to reconnect for another creative retreat.
I went into this trip with three main goals:
Reconnect with a best friend.
Work with clay for the first time in three years.
Step away from my daily responsibilities so I could fully immerse myself in the creative process.
There is a unique synergy that happens when Mercedes and I create together. When she visited me in Japan three years ago, our shared travel adventures there and art journaling were a catalyst for finishing my Sakura collection. The inspiration she brought helped me focus and finish my cherry blossom work for my final show the following spring.
This time, our only plan was to "play with clay." The first morning I was there, right after breakfast, we went out to her studio. She generously let me glaze some of her existing pieces and carve into her new work. One of the days we were able to work outside in the backyard. Florida weather in March is absolutely divine! I loved working outside carving into the freshly thrown mugs she had made.
Outdoor pottery making session. March, 2026. Florida.
While pottery is a medium that demands patience—and we certainly had our share of experiments and surprises—I am thrilled with the results.
We were able to fire most of my projects in the kiln just in time for me to hand-carry the heavy box of tiles through the airport on my flight back to North Carolina.
Putting these pieces together for a few moments before packing them up for my flight home.
Lastly, in the three and a half days I was there, we even managed to spend a morning painting on-site near the bay before my departure.
I am incredibly grateful to our families and friends whose support allowed us to step away and nourish our creative spirits. These experiences are important to our artistic journeys, and I returned home feeling refreshed and deeply inspired.
Artfully,
P.S. If you are interested in the tile pieces please reach out. I am in the process of getting these framed before listing them here on my site. Email me at: hello@ANNASTASHA.com