Susan Meyer does absolutely every­thing involved with the cre­ation of the work she sells, from the orig­i­nal sculp­ture to the fir­ing. She used to have helpers when she did more fine art and crafts shows, but has managed to go it alone now for sev­eral years.  She'll be at the Midsummer Festival of the Arts on July 19 & 20th (this coming weekend!) in Sheboygan, WI and then at Celebrating Art in Nature on July 26 & 27th in Woodstock, IL.  See her website for a more extensive list of upcoming shows.

"Woodland Scene" backsplash

Susan says this about her work and inspiration: "My Irish grand­mother got me started early in life hunt­ing for lep­rechauns, fairies, and elves. I never did see any, but devel­oped a pro­found love of Nature in the process of search­ing for them. My work is an extension of that love."

Ginko Leaf Border Installation, 6 x 6 inch tiles

This image is a side view of a shower border using a single glaze, in this case a semi-matte grey-green.  Border tiles can be easily created using simpler images that are meaningful to the client, in a monochromatic color, as above.  Com­mis­sions for mod­i­fi­ca­tions (flatter, less sculptural) to exist­ing designs for installations are welcomed.  Borders give a finished look and add immediate interest and individuality to backsplashes, fireplaces and showers.

Turtle, monochramatic version from "Woodland Scene," above

As to advice for beginning tile artists, Susan has this to say "If people like your work they'll keep coming back for more. The objective is to find those people. Shows are generally a good place to start because there are lots of people who actually have exerted a little effort to see art; they like it, like to live with art around them. They don't think it's weird or frivolous to buy art.  If they like yours, they'll buy it."

"But my best advice would be to marry a good marketer."