Andrea Robinson, the artist behind Calgary-based “Calico Moon Pottery”, is a mom, a wife, a teacher and a triathlete. A day in her life typically includes training for at least one of the three disciplines of triathlon: swimming, biking and running, as well as balancing the demands of a growing art business, such as managing custom orders, prepping for art shows and creating new designs. Andrea’s love of the outdoors and the natural beauty found in Alberta’s Rocky Mountains, the foothills and Calgary’s Fish Creek Park are reflected in the detailed carvings of mountain and tree images that appear in almost every piece of pottery she creates. Andrea’s work celebrates colour, texture and detailed craftsmanship. The mindfulness-based practice of freehand carving and working with bright colours is a metaphor for her … “In a world with so much darkness, it is therapeutic and worth the effort to spread a bit of lightness and joy.” A perfect day for her would include time outdoors biking or running with friends as well as quiet time in her home pottery studio, either on the wheel or carving clay with her two dogs and of course Zola the Calico Moon studio cat nearby.
-Written by Scott Robinson
Biking in Priddis and posing with my husband Scott with our Ironman Canada medals. Outside of my studio, my favourite thing to do is swim, bike or run with Scott and other triathlete friends in the Calgary area. Consistent exercise and sense of community is crucial for my mental health! I think the qualities that contribute to success as a triathlete such as discipline, persistence and having a growth mindset have been an essential part of my journey as a potter. Fun fact: The very first thing I made as a potter (and not as a teacher) was a set of clay medals for my triathlon friends whose races were all canceled during the COVID 19 pandemic. I’ve been an artist and art teacher my whole career… but that was the real start of my clay journey!Leo, Winnie and Zola! Zola is a calico cat and is one of the inspirations behind the Calico Moon name. Her colour patterns are like a mosaic, and most of my work includes some kind of “mosaic” style carvings! I love animals so much (especially my dogs!) but I have always been a cat person – my maker’s mark actually depicts a little cat sitting on a crescent moon! The moon is all about the powerful effect of nature and the illumination of things in darkness, coming to light.Colour, texture, and joy! A flower pot from my new Chinook series, a Mountain Mosaic platter (Kananaskis inspired), Neurographic Tree mugs and a pair of Mountain Mosaic mugs depicting the Three Sisters and the Northern Lights! The Chinook wind series is newer and it combines my mountain mosaic style with the mindfulness-based practice of neurographic art, originally developed with my tree designs. You will notice the free-handed “wind” carvings are all “rounded” as this is part of the neurographic art practice.Studio! In my home-based studio with some of the Mountain Mosaic pieces. You can see a glimpse of my well-ventilated Skutt kiln in the background.Carving a tree. The detailed carvings that are foundational to my neurographic art process are time-consuming and are accomplished with a steady hand and focused mind. Each one is unique! I am fascinated with this free-hand process AND the subject matter. Running amongst the trees, either alone or with a friend, is where I come up with most of my ideas for my pottery!Glazing some Retro Rockies pieces. For most of my mosaic work, I use underglaze as it can be applied and mixed in a more “painterly” way. For the Retro Rockies collection, however, I use a satin matte glaze, and this requires a few coats of each colour! To get the stripes nice and even, I use a laser level and auto detailing tape.The Retro Rockies series pays homage to the stylings of the 70s and 80s, drawing inspiration from our mountains, and even rock climbing gear, like the climbing holds featured on some of the mugs. The very first mug in this series was made as a gift for my climbing enthusiast daughter!March 1st at the Little Modern Market in Calgary. I was excited to showcase some new collections that I added, including the new Retro Rockies, Chinook and Neriage collections. I love markets as it’s a chance to connect with people about my work and share my process.
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Which ’hood are you in?
I have lived in Chaparral since our family moved to Calgary from Nova Scotia in 2008. We love having access to the lake for open water swimming in the summer, close proximity to Fish Creek Park and we are just 20 minutes away from some of the best roads for cycling in the foothills.
What do you do?
I make handcrafted, functional and decorative ceramic art. My pottery is a celebration of colour, texture, nature and the artistic process. I am constantly experimenting with new designs and techniques. I have been a teacher for over 20 years, but as I inch towards retirement, I am slowly making pottery my focus.
What are you currently working on?
I am currently experimenting with marbled porcelain (Neriage) techniques, and I am learning to throw increasingly larger pieces on the wheel with more proficiency. I am excited about a new challenge: a series of moon jars/spherical vases … “Calico Moon Jars.” I am also working on more carved, hand-built platters that I am preparing for the Beacon Art Show in April and the Art Market Craft Sale in November.
Bronwyn Lewis is a food writer for the Vancouver Guardian. She’s also a screenwriter and producer. Born and raised in Vancouver, Bronwyn lives in Mount Pleasant and you can follow all her food adventures on Instagram.
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