Q&A:

1. Please introduce yourself! 

Hello! My name is Lara, and I thrive on coffee and creating by myself while being around other people 😉  I have also built a career as a Unit Photographer shooting on Film and Television sets. Pursuing this type of position is REALLY hard. It requires a lot of passion and sacrifice so when the inevitable burnout of the hustle occurs, I find myself meditating on things that make me feel calm and playing with clay is one of them. 

2. Your clay story: when and how did you first get into pottery? Can you remember your first pottery experience? Do you have any first memories that stick out?

I grew up in upstate NY where I first learned wheel throwing during a high school Sculpture and Ceramics Class. I remember taking a wonky piece off the wheel and mutating it into a fun little sculptural piece and it caught the attention of the teacher and other students.  I didn’t touch the wheel again until late 2019 but it was short lived when the pandemic put that on hold. I also had my daughter late 2020 and as she got older, giving her playdough was my favorite activity with her. I finally got to a point where I decided I needed to get back into pottery and find a studio.

3. What forms do you make most, and what’s your style or go-to techniques/materials?

Throwing on the wheel is the best sensation next to capturing a split second moment in a camera. Wheel throwing and handbuilding make me feel like I’m truly creating from the soul vs the method of “taking” in photography (and I’ve been taking photos for 20 years now). I’m currently limiting myself to two clay bodies and one or two glazes to make functional pieces inspired by nature. . When I first started I was so excited to try every glaze available to me and every clay available at the studio. By setting limitations my goal is to extract an even deeper creative layer from within.

4. What appeals to you about clay and what lessons has it taught you?

I love being immersed in nature- there’s an immediate peace I feel when surrounded by trees and water. Clay also gives me that same peace while being able to be active and be interactive with it. The biggest lesson it has taught me is that of detachment. Letting go of perfection, embracing imperfection, and knowing that if something breaks or a piece accidentally flies off the wheel (that happened to my first teapot), I can always just make another one. 

5. How did you find Not Another Pottery Studio? Do you have any special moments, or favorite memories with other members / students?

In 2024, a friend told me about a  pottery studio that had just opened up on ER Blvd after I told her that I was getting back into pottery.  I had just signed up at another studio but I immediately applied for a membership after checking out the website and seeing that I could walk to the studio from my house. After meeting Lauren, the owner, I knew that this was where I needed to be. My favorite part about this studio are the friends and the community that are fostered here. Lauren’s vision for a studio built and fueled by kindness is exactly what I had been needing in my life. 

6. What advice would you give to someone starting out in pottery?

My advice is to keep pottery intuitive and don’t get too caught up in the technical stuff. Clay has a memory and kilns are ruled  by Goddesses. Find a balance of following basic rules and experimenting. 

7. If we want to see more of you, your work (ceramic or other), where would we go? (If people can buy your work or you take commissions, let us know!)

I post most of my updates on instagram: @earthen_sol_studio. 

I have a website that now features my photography and pottery: www.larasolanki.com 

And if anyone is interested in my Film/TV work, my website is: www.thestillsninja.com

I love taking on commissions because I really enjoy working directly with someone  to create something unique and special. 

I’m not actively creating to sell but I do sell what I create!