Maker Series: Clay Beehive
Celebrating the art of handmade ceramics: Meet Mel from Clay Beehive
Handmade ceramics by Clay Beehive
We are delighted to introduce you to Mel Eliades from Clay Beehive. A talented handmade ceramics artisan, Mel transforms clay into beautiful and distinct homeware pieces.
Think one-off plates and bowls, unique platters and striking vases. Only doing small-batch runs, Mel’s ceramics are made with love and passion.
Today Mel joins us for a Q&A to share her ceramics journey – talking us through the good, the bad and the amazing!
What inspired you to learn the art of handmade ceramics?
Before I embarked on my ceramics journey, I studied in the sciences, worked as a medical laboratory technician and as a secretary (worlds apart, I know)!
I came to clay when my Dad passed away and Mum was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Becoming her carer, I soon realised I needed a creative outlet.
So, I signed up for night classes in handmade ceramics. From the very first moment I touched the clay, I knew that this was my thing. Apparently this happens a lot!
Clay soon became my obsession. I bought a kiln… and slowly but surely started to take over the back shed. This is where my learning curve really kicked in. I had to do everything, but it also gave me a chance to take risks, experiment and get more creative.
When did your hobby become a business?
I was making ceramics for well over a year before I began selling my work. I was actually into food photography at the time and I would make plates as a complementary feature for my photos.
But then it wasn’t long before people began asking where they could purchase the plates I made.
This was my a-ha moment – I realised I could follow my passion, do what I love and create unique ceramic pieces, and earn a living from it.
How do you balance your creative passion vs building your business?
This was (and still is) a tricky endeavour. My business got to a point a few years ago where I could choose to go two ways.
Mass production where I make many of the same pieces
Small batches where I create unique one-of-a-kinds
For me, mass production is definitely not what I want. I prefer to create one-offs. This is what makes me happy. While making one-of-a-kind pieces takes a lot longer, I enjoy the creative process of coming up with new ideas, experimenting with them, and continuously creating something new.
In saying this, I’m also very conscious of making handmade ceramic pieces that my customers want and love. It’s a real balance – but for me, I enjoy it so much more than my previous 9 to 5 jobs.
What’s the feeling like, leading up to a new release?
I’ve always had a feeling of trepidation with all my new releases. It can be a little scary because some of the things I make are pretty ‘out there’.
I guess it’s that fear factor that many creatives and artists experience before releasing new work. And although people say you shouldn’t let your work define you, it’s hard not to because… your work is you!
How long have you been making?
I’ve loved photography for years, particularly photographing insects (definitely inspired by the science part of my brain). I love gardening too and really enjoy combining colours and foliage together.
My Mum also got me into sewing as a kid. She had a clothing design business that morphed into local sports uniforms. I remember on school holidays we’d go in and sew our own tops and make clothes for our dolls.
The one thing I’d always wanted to get into, but it didn’t happen until a little later in my life, was pottery. And here I am today!
Do you have any design or creative philosophies that you follow?
I like to keep things simple. If a piece is too overworked, it doesn’t feel right for me.
My colour palettes and designs are very pared back. If I use a colour, I won’t carve the piece. And vice versa.
At the place where I first learnt pottery, there were 20 buckets of glazed colours. I found this overwhelming and so from that moment I chose to keep my work simple. Spoiler alert: I’m actually thinking of bringing green into my colour palette soon.
What do you love about the process of making?
I just love that I get to use a material that comes from the earth and shape it into a beautiful object that will potentially survive for thousands of years.
It’s such a simple thing I’m doing, yet I get to transform clay into a product that’s used every day. A plate… a bowl… a vase. It’s not just something to look at, but a valuable item that people use in their daily ritual.
What’s your favourite part of the ceramics process?
I really enjoy the whole process... except for sanding – that’s not fun. But overall, my favourite thing has to be creating a new piece, especially when it’s a one off.
I love the decorating stage too. When I’m adding stripes and spots, I really get into my creative zone. I also really love carving – I could do it all day. One thing I’d like to do in the future is make pieces and invite people along to carve them. It’s a very meditative process.
What are the most challenging elements of your art?
Handcrafting ceramics comes with a lot of uncertainty. And while I’ve created many, many beautiful pieces, there have also been some failures.
I have to say that working with a kiln is the most frustrating factor. There really is no guarantee that your creations will work. The best you can do is make sure that each piece is perfect when it goes in for its first firing. Otherwise it can easily crack or warp.
There are also external factors that can affect your work (the weather, power going out, how quickly your clay dries). These can all have a huge impact when you create for a living.
Fortunately, I can now pick up any imperfections before a piece is fired. And I put fewer pieces into the kiln for the first firing, to help avoid cracks.
Do you have a favourite product at the moment?
I’m currently falling back in love with black clay. It has such a lovely texture and provides a great contrast to smoother areas of my ceramic pieces.
I also really enjoy making vases or platters – where I’m not glazing the clay. Here, it’s all about the form and surface texture of the clay rather than the glaze.
It’s been wonderful to learn about Mel’s creative process and to hear, see and feel the passion she brings into her art. I am in total awe of her talent and am always very excited when she launches a new release. Every piece she makes is simply incredible.
If you’re interested in purchasing your very own one-off Clay Beehive piece, take a look at the gorgeous range in our store.
Bec x