Rediscovering the Joy of Creation
When I founded Studio Variatio in 2013, it was out of necessity—my ceramics hobby had outgrown my kitchen cabinets and those of my relatives. Selling my creations gave me a structured outlet, but as the business grew, the joy I once found in making was overshadowed by the need to think commercially. My focus shifted to what would sell and how many items I needed to fill a sales booth without confusing customers with a mismatched assortment.
Although I love the process of bringing an idea to life, I find no joy in mass-producing the same item. To strike a balance, I started working within a few parameters, such as general shape or colour, to create similar pieces without losing the uniqueness of each. However, maintaining an online store proved challenging. I wanted customers to know exactly what they were buying, which required extensive photography—yet I still worried about potential disappointment.
Eventually, I decided to put my website in ‘Maintenance’ mode a few years ago. Running a web shop no longer appealed to me, and even though craft markets were resuming, they no longer aligned with what I wanted to do. The decision to step back from selling was liberating, allowing me to focus purely on my ideas without worrying about their marketability. It took time to get back into the creative groove, but once I expanded my mindset from just creating art to learning new skills and simply making things, the joy returned.
Expanding My Horizons
Over the past few years, I’ve delved into various fields such as photography, photo editing, 3D modelling, animation, pyrography, DIY carpentry, pattern creation, plant dyeing, and knitting—the list goes on. At first glance, these might seem like a random collection of skills, but each new thing I learn sparks a wave of ideas. I find myself not only thinking of ways to use each skill individually but also how to combine them in new and exciting ways.
I’ve come to realize that at my core, I am a learner and a maker. My artistic vision is always present, guiding me toward better outcomes and fuelling my drive to improve. With this renewed perspective, I’m reopening my website with a fresh look and a new purpose.
A New Focus
On the business side, I’m shifting my focus to the digital realm, exploring the B2B sector. While I’ll still occasionally sell products at fairs and events, I’m also seeking resellers interested in unique, handcrafted items for their shops. Additionally, I’ve been offering my work on print-on-demand platforms like Redbubble for several years, and now, I’m expanding to other platforms and adding new creations.
A new venture for me is licensing my artwork. I have a variety of items available for licensing, including digitized versions of my original artwork, digital paintings, and seamless patterns.
Behind the Scenes: The Fun Part
I’m bringing back this blog, where I’ll share my artistic journey, much like I did in the early days. These posts won’t be “how-to” guides but rather realistic accounts of my learning process. I’ll also touch on the business aspects of my work, which might be helpful to others.
Some topics I’m thinking to write about include:
- Seamless patterns (a topic I’ve studied extensively this year)
- Photogrammetry, 3D modelling, and 3D printing (currently learning this)
- My experiences as a client of Print-on-Demand services
These blogs will be posted at random intervals—this is about enjoying the process, not sticking to a schedule dictated by algorithms. I hope to share with you the excitement of learning and creating something new. Maybe it’ll inspire you to start a new project or pick up that half-finished one you’ve tucked away.
