Lunchtime Lecture: Summer Balcom

Today, I had the pleasure of attending a captivating Lunchtime Lecture by Summer Balcom, a talented ceramic artist and thriving business owner. Summer's artistic journey began during a tumultuous period marked by profound loss, as she grappled with grief and anxiety following the passing of her grandmother and sister in the same year. Initially expressing her emotions through ink and paper drawings during high school, Summer's artistic medium underwent a transformative shift upon entering VCUarts. Immersed in clay work, particularly realistic sculpting classes, she found solace in molding clay to convey her innermost feelings.

Upon graduating in 2018, Summer started teaching art at her old high school, only to realize the time constraints it placed on her. There really was no time to make art just for herself, and all her time was spent grading and teaching. However, the unexpected downtime during the 2020 pandemic provided her with plenty of extra time. She took this opportunity and converted her garage into a dedicated clay studio. Embracing the therapeutic process of creating, she crafted clay mugs adorned with intricate designs using the sgraffito technique, where layers of colored slip are applied to clay before scratching away to reveal contrasting layers beneath.

Sharing her creations on social media proved successful, as several people wanted to purchase her unique pieces. This marked the start of her clay-based business. Motivated by this initial success, Summer made the bold decision to transition away from teaching altogether and commit wholeheartedly to her business.

As her art skills improved over time, Summer learned firsthand the invaluable power of networking in the art world. One notable example she shared was how connecting with fellow artists led to exciting collaborative opportunities and expanded her reach within the creative community.

Summer's resilience, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit left a profound impression on me. Her story serves as a testament to the transformative potential of art, the importance of seizing opportunities, and the enduring power of passion and perseverance in pursuing one's dreams.

Here are some more pictures of Summer's work:

If you want to learn more, visit Summer's website here: https://summerbeeclay.com/