Ishara Sweeney is a studio potter in Carbondale Colorado.  With a BFA concentrating in Ceramic Arts and a BA in English literature, the two have been married together in her work ever since.  Although her studies turned towards the asian arts, receiving her Masters and Doctorate in Chinese Medicine, she has not stopped exploring the vast wilderness of ceramics, with the past few years finding her immersed in the creative process in wholly new ways.

Inspiration and recharge usually go hand in hand for me. Seeing art inspires me, it fills me with life and engages me. This could be the art of ceramic artist Jennifer Lee, the paintings of Richard Diebenkorn, or the writings of Annie Dillard. Or, it could be the art of the natural world. Being out hiking in the woods is quite possibly one of the most fulfilling things for me. All the colors, textures, and wildlife fill me up; they recharge both mind and body. The wide-open space, the light, the movement—it all makes my world right again. And if I’m stuck in the studio, an outing up one of the mountains here will usually get things moving—both literally and metaphorically. When it comes to inspiration for my ceramic canvases, well that is equal parts nature, literature, and humor-filled adventures with my husband and Cosmo. I’ve found that one of the most important aspects is to be open to new experiences. Looking at art in many different fields, learning new skills, exploring different terrains, and eating new foods; by expanding the walls of my personal box, these experiences also expand the ways my art can unfold.