My love for craft began in high school, where I was fortunate enough to have access to a well funded arts program and a teacher who was supportive of my experimental clay antics. In college, I studied printmaking and photography, but spent many hours in the ceramics and sculpture studios, often attempting to combine different techniques from each medium. In 2019, I was hired by Mangum Pottery in Weaverville, NC as a production potter. My time there has allowed me to learn and hone many skills and develop my understanding of everything that goes into making a pot. This ultimately led me to create my own body of ceramic work.
Pulling inspiration from the tactile-ness of clay as well as the origins of clay itself, my work strives to celebrate all facets of what clay and glaze combinations can offer; how something feels is just as important to me as how it looks. My pots incorporate sections of unglazed clay to emphasize the beauty of the material, and to introduce new textures to the viewer, or holder, of the pot. The forms of my pots are a nod to the shaping that occurs naturally during the weathering and breakdown process of rock formations. This breakdown is ultimately what leads to the formation of clay minerals that make up clay bodies.
My prints also attempt to create visual texture and layers and encourage the viewer to look at things in new ways; often working with blind contour drawings and layering different media. I have a deep love for functional art and craft and enjoy experimenting with and combining different techniques and mediums.
Originally from Southern Maine and now living in Western North Carolina, I have a strong appreciation for the craft community that exists on the east coast, and especially enjoy connecting with the current Appalachian generation who are celebrating these craft traditions while pushing them to new limits.
Stone Run Craft started under the name "Fruit Boots" as a printmaking project in 2020 by Liam Sawyer and continues to evolve today as Liam's interests in different media and functional art develop.