Meet Etsy Potter & Artist: MAKUstudio

Marianne Kasparian (aka MAK) is of Armenian heritage and grew up on the East coast near Washington, DC. Her love of travel has led her on many cross-country drives through the US - and she has lived in many states. "Different cultures intrigue me in their ways of life and especially their food," she admits. "I’m particularly fond of Japanese (sushi), Vietnamese, Chinese, Indian, and Thai food. Of course, stuffed grape leaves (dolmas) and many other Mediterranean foods are always on the top of the list." She worked most of her life as a bartender, but found her passion in raku beads and jewelry 7 years ago. "Raku pottery was made long ago for Japanese tea ceremonies," she explains. "It was modernized later in the Western world into the process you see today. This involves taking a piece of pottery that has been bisque fired in a kiln, then glazed and then firing it in a raku kiln (which my husband and I built ourselves). The piece is then fired to about 1800 degrees F, depending on environmental conditions, and pulled out of the kiln while still red hot. Then it is placed in a reduction chamber (a metal can) containing organic materials such as newspaper, sawdust, leaves, etc. Smoke is created and reacts with the pot leaving the unglazed portion black (a very unique characteristic of raku). It's so exciting and creates one of kind colors which are very hard to duplicate." Her quirky style is often "down to earth and funky." She opened her Etsy shop about a year ago and has cultivated it into a full time job. "(Etsy) has been a great environment for me to grow even further with my art, as well as share my passion with so many other people and artists," she says. "Follow your heart and live your passion!" Please check out her shop: http://makustudio.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/