Meet Kelsey Stoddard | Artist & Mama

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kelsey Stoddard and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kelsey, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
There’s never been any doubt in my mind since I was very, very small that I needed to create. I have always felt an intense pull toward creating with my hands. As for making a career out of it, I am not sure there would have been many other paths that would have filled me up and brought me immense joy like creating does. It really ignites my spirit and brings me deeper to the true meaning of existing.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Mixed media ceramics is not very common to come by, so in that way I find that my work has a unique pioneering effect. I wanted to find a way to combine my love of pottery and ceramics and my obsession with collecting nature curiosities. I wanted to actually showcase them with the ceramics, not just recreate them-thus the resin encased ceramics was born. It was challenging to establish a process that never had been done before. While the process is still evolving, only in the last couple years I feel I’ve mastered the process I created seven years ago.

I am most proud of how no matter the medium, my creations all have a unifying style. This is probably because my biggest draw to create is always the same- exploring the interconnectedness of things (which is a very broad concept with many avenues to venture). Since this is my motivator, my work ends up being interconnected all as whole body.

I would not say getting here was easy, but in a sense yes it was because its always felt so natural to consistently be creating. As for getting a following and making money at it, its still a struggle… social media is an excellent way to get that following, but its draining. Finding boundaries around social media while still keeping it part of the process is most certainly my biggest challenge as an artist and business owner.

I am super excited for a new journey I am starting! Its unlike anything I’ve done before, but when you see it, you will know its me!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am such a home body. My secondary passion is homemaking and mothering. If my best friend (shoutout to Abby Newsham), was visiting I would be most excited to have one of our famous existential conversations like we used to have as teenagers. Abby is one of the most interesting and exciting people I know, so I would not be lacking in that department. Making her a home cooked meal and baking something special for her would be the ultimate pleasure!

As for local hang out spots (pre-kids, ha ha!), Something Brewery in Brighton, CO is a longtime favorite of my husband and I. Our current favorite Colorado adventures are to a family property in Fairplay and if we were there we’d visit my friend Nicole who owns a goat farm and a shop called Mountain Essentials. We also love visiting Gunnison and Blue Mesa. I used to work at Scenic River River Tours in Gunnison and that is a excellent place to go white water rafting!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shoutout definitely goes to my husband & best friend, Derek. I really would not be where I am in life and with my creative endeavors if it were not for his constant support and encouragement. He truly helps me be the best version of me everyday. I love him to every pocket of existence and am so grateful I get to experience this life with him. And shoutout to Sam Ross, my husband’s childhood best friend and extremely talented artist, for shouting out me!

Website: www.kelseysstarstuff.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelseysstarstuff/

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/179006725883503/