Aleisa Byfield - Artisan
Aleisa Byfield not only creates and designs beautiful, handmade ceramic jewellery and homewares but has a passion for self-development and healing. Through her stunning pieces which are inspired by many things, including Japanese Pottery and nature, her use of a variety of different textures and techniques showcase Aleisa's authentic self. I had the amazing opportunity to get to know more about her story and how this business began.
Hey Aleisa, introduce yourself (where are you from, what do you do, what are your hobbies and interests)
Hey there, my name is Aleisa Byfield and I am a ceramic artist and hand craft homewares, jewellery and artworks. I moved to Port Macquarie over 20 years ago from Wagga Wagga shortly after my partner moved here for his work. Other than holidaying abroad and living in the UK and Sydney for a few years, I have called Port Macquarie home ever since.
Besides creating ceramics, my biggest passion is in self development, growth and healing. I continually work hard at not conforming to society’s ideals, projections and expectations and try to live the most authentic version of myself as possible – which is a work in progress of course! I have a thirst for trying to understand human behavior - I am curious by nature and crave diversity.
As a past worker and volunteer in crisis support, I am also extremely passionate about showing empathy and encouraging the development of effective listening skills to people in pain.
Travel and adventure is also hugely important to me and I often need to escape and discover places I haven’t been to before.
How did Aleisa Byfield Artisan come about? How long have you been making jewellery for?
I worked as a Legal Secretary/Assistant for many years and also in volunteer organisations and a variety of not-for-profit /helping organisations both here and in the UK. Although I gained highly valuable skills and experience, I knew in my heart that I needed to spend my time doing something more meaningful for me which was in line with my purpose and allowed me freedom, flexibility and creative expression which was authentic to me.
Although I didn’t officially start my ceramics business until early 2016, I had spent the previous couple of years learning and experimenting at the Port Macquarie Art & Craft Centre where there weren’t any ceramic classes but members all shared their knowledge and experience with one another. I had a toy pottery wheel as a small child and felt the burning desire to get back on the wheel and create something using the tactile medium of clay. Before long I was throwing on the wheel, had purchased my own to use at home and was experimenting with other methods of coiling, handbuilding, pinching and slab building.
Inspired by the fragile, seductive and receptive nature of clay, I immersed myself in furthering my knowledge and relishing in the endless possibilities of ceramics, particularly for self exploration and expression. Although not my original intention, it wasn’t long before I evolved into creating jewellery in addition to homewares and I started selling my work to family and friends. I wanted to see where this creative journey could take me, so I have been exploring different ways of selling my wares and gaining exposure, from wholesaling to selling at markets.
What do you feel is your purpose in life and how do you think you are achieving this?
I have always felt and known on some level that my path and experiences have been rather difficult and challenging which have been somewhat different to many others’ around me and as such have struggled to feel like I fit in.
However I do also know that there is the bigger reason for everything and because of this, I feel that I am on this continuing journey to grow and inspire healing and change in others. By being creative (as an artist and in all ways), unleashing my gifts and talents and bringing beauty into the world, I do feel more and more confident and comfortable each day that I can be a voice and vehicle for change and transformation when the time is right – it’s not only my passion but it’s my job!
Where do you find your inspiration and how did you hone in on your style?
Nature is where most of my inspiration comes from but it can also come from everyday objects and materials – from hessian to string. I am also hugely influenced by Japanese pottery, values and way of life. I love texture, design, timber and textiles and attempt to bring these sources of inspiration into my work in both texturizing the clay itself and in the glazes or surface treatments I use. I adore the tactile nature of clay and prefer work that is raw, fractured and individual – I have a huge fear of the mundane and of conformity!
My work emulates the fragility, diversity and imperfections found throughout nature as I see beauty in the flaws, scars and imperfections that are often overlooked - just like with the people I am drawn to! I regularly collect and re-purpose discarded flora and other remnants from nature to be incorporated into my work.
I enjoy the freedom of using a variety of clay bodies, decoration processes, techniques and firing temperatures and have a relentless curiosity with experimentation and testing the limits. So sometimes new creations are born from ‘happy accidents’. My intuitive process is of course bigger than me so when inspiration strikes I try to just allow what needs to be expressed – which may not be what I had planned but may actually be better than I had imagined!
I like to create honest, authentic and individual hand-crafted ceramic tableware, homewares, jewellery and ceramic art that are natural and earthy, have a contemporary aesthetic and are also beautiful and stylish pieces to suit a variety of tastes and interior design styles. I really love the look and feel of rough, gritty stonewares but I also equally love the contrast of the soft and smooth appearance of porcelain so I will often blend a variety of these bodies together to create unique and one-of-a-kind stunning pieces.
All my products are lovingly created by me in my home studio and I like to do as much as possible myself, not only from envisioning to designing and producing my ceramics, but to collecting and preparing my branding materials such as earring display cards and business cards to ensure everything is consistent and cohesive. There is a lot of time, energy and processes involved in achieving the final products and just like us, every handmade piece is unique and just as special as the next one!
What are your goals and aspirations for the future?
Besides selling my ceramic works, I am deeply passionate about using clay as a voice to help create change and for social justice issues and I try to enter ceramic competitions and exhibitions when opportunities arise. This can take me to places that I may not have visited otherwise which I’m very grateful for. I am also deeply passionate about the power of creativity to enhance community and individual wellbeing and to inspire self discovery and transformation. It encourages us all to explore new ways of making, seeing and understanding both art and the world.
What is something most people don't know about you?
I do fancy a game or two of air hockey when I come across it and can get quite competitive when playing!
Where can people find you and connect with you?
I have various stockists Australia wide and currently have some of my creations in the new gorgeous local store ‘My Shack By The Sea’ in William Street. I also sell work at the monthly Artist Market as well as selling direct to the public. I am in the process of setting up a website and online store but can be contacted via Instagram (aleisabyfield.artisan) and Facebook (Aleisa Byfield Artisan).
Aleisa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aleisabyfield.artisan/?hl=en
Thank you Aleisa! xx