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Inside The Studio of Ceramicist Caitlin Robson
16/05/25
Author: RIISE Team
DOCUMENTED BY: RIISE
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Drawing inspiration from nature and the quiet beauty of everyday life, Caitlin Robson uses clay to create sculptural interpretations of the female form.
For Caitlin, working with clay is deeply meditative and is a medium through which she finds calm and an opportunity to reconnect with herself. Caitlin welcomed RIISE into her studio to observe her on the tools and learn about her creative process. She shared with us where she finds inspiration and what advice she would pass on to her younger self.
RIISE: Can you tell us a bit about your journey in ceramics? What first drew you to pottery as an art form?
I first came to clay at a time when I was craving something new, something more physical. I’d been working full-time as a visual artist, mainly drawing, and when everything shifted in 2020, it felt like the perfect time to re-evaluate things. I was already exploring themes around the abstraction of the female form in my drawings, and I started feeling this pull to bring those ideas into the physical world. Clay just made sense.
It’s been such a grounding, humbling, and expressive medium. Working with it has taught me a lot about letting go. Things break, plans don’t always work out and you really have to surrender to the process. But there’s also something deeply meditative about it. It’s where I go to quiet the noise and reconnect with myself.
RIISE: Can you walk us through your creative process? How do you begin a new piece?
CR: New ideas usually start with a pencil and paper. I’ll sketch shapes and forms until something clicks, something I feel called to explore further in clay. There’s a bit of a dance between myself and the clay, a sort of intuitive back-and-forth. On some days, everything flows so naturally, and I find myself completely in the zone. Other days, there’s resistance, and that usually tells me something about where I’m at emotionally. It’s funny how your hands can reveal what your head hasn’t quite caught up to yet. It’s all part of the process.
RIISE: Your creative style is so unique and fresh. Where do you derive your inspiration from? What aspects of your surroundings inspire you the most when creating new work?
CR: Thank you, that really means a lot. I draw a lot of inspiration from nature, architecture, and just noticing the quiet, beautiful moments in everyday life. The way sunlight hits a wall, the shape of a rock, the texture of a surface — those little things really feed my creativity. I’ve been making a conscious effort to break routine lately, to step away from screens and just be more present. There’s a certain kind of awe and wonder that comes from being fully immersed in the moment, and I’ve been trying to return to that space. My forms are often inspired by organic, abstract shapes, especially those found in rocks and natural textures. Sometimes, I’ll see shapes in my mind's eye just as I’m falling asleep, and I’ll scribble them into my notes app or sketchbook before they disappear.
"If I could tell my younger self one thing, it would be to let go of the fear. Lean into what your intuition is telling you, even if it feels uncomfortable."
RIISE: What’s one piece of advice you’d give your younger self or someone starting in your line of work?
CR: I had a lot of self-doubt growing up. Somewhere looping in my subconscious, I didn’t really believe that I could make a career out of creating art. But over time, daily practices like journaling, meditation, and showing up consistently to make arthelped shift that belief. If I could tell my younger self one thing, it would be to let go of the fear. Lean into what your intuition is telling you, even if it feels uncomfortable. That inner voice is going to be your compass, and it’ll guide you exactly where you’re meant to go. Things tend to fall into place when you trust yourself and pour your energy into what you love.
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Documented By: RIISE
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