Erika Rier

A set of ceramics featuring a seated woman in a blue dress and a white weasel that is her companion. They are spaced slightly apart.

My favorite photo of this odd couple ceramic set. The fact that the lady balances on her own is maybe one of my greatest ceramic achievements to date. When arranged like this I feel like maybe these two are having a little disagreement.

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Sometimes I think it would be nice if life could be just like, a teeny tiny bit easier.

The not taking criticism from people I wouldn’t ask for advice hits so hard. Why do people feel so easy giving such crappy advice to people they don’t even know?

And yes, I’m apparently having lots of thoughts today. Yesterday was all nihilism and existential dread in my brain. Today is all about trying to find a way forward despite difficult times.

And when everything clicks, your art has the potential to help others around you also process what’s going on or helps them find release or pleasure despite the chaos. This is important work at any time but especially in the face of fascism.

I think it can be difficult sometimes to sit down and make art when the world is on fire but making art can help you process what is going on. It’s not so much self-care(which is a phrase I kind of loathe) as a process that helps you find ways to move forward through this nightmare.

My husband saw me building this as he left and said, “ I know that you love me but your devotion to that cat is unparalleled.”

Fifi the art studio assistant standing on his tall chair to see outside. Fifi is a slightly floofy cat guy with apricot colored fur.

Outside view of Fifi staring out the window into a new landscape. Fifi is a slightly floofy cat guy with apricot colored fur.

My new studio assistant was devastated that he is too short to see out the windows of the studio doors so I built him a tall chair.

When something is going wrong in my art I don’t sit and think about it or beat myself up, I just start making more art or pick up something I left unfinished and see where it goes. So stop thinking about art and comparing your art to others, just make some fucking art.

And that is where the second part of trusting the process comes in. I know that there is not a creative problem that I can’t solve by just getting in the studio and immersing myself in process, whether the problem is technical, aesthetic, or even artist block.

I think my biggest skill as an artist is an ability to make something I totally know sucks or could be better and instead of feeling discouraged by that outcome immediately thinking: I must do this again and get better.

Whenever I hear someone tell me they can’t make art, my heart breaks a little. I truly believe everyone is capable of immersing themselves in a creative process. I think the two things I come back when I ponder this are a willingness to be brave enough to make “bad” art and a trust in the process.

Thank you so much!! That announcement bar is so pesky to locate but just disabled it, thank you for the heads up🥰🥰

This has been exactly my experience as a visual artist trying to get off instagram. Everyone loves to say they hate meta but try getting them to move to a new platform or subscribe to a newsletter instead is fruitless.

Thank you for sharing this!!!

Shop — Erika Rier 25% off all items in the shop through 7/26/25, all free shipping over orders of $35 through same date. Discount will show up at checkout!

Last call for my 25% off sale celebrating my new shop! Sale goes through the end of Sunday, July 25. The discount will show up in your cart as you’re checking out.

www.erikarier.com/shop

Thank you!!!

Fired my first glaze kiln and here are some of my favorite ceramics to come out of this load.

I think what is tricky about these stories is that while some mental illness can be caused by other illnesses, it’s not saying all mental illness is. And I think that’s important in these sort of stories, we can’t assume that what worked for one of us will save all of us.

So I have a much less dramatic version of this woman’s story. Thankfully my diagnosis of autoimmune disease happened much earlier in my life but not before being repeatedly hospitalized for bipolar disorder. I’ve spent the last twenty years managing my autoimmune diseases rather than mental illness.

4-Week Mug Mini | Morning Ceramics Studio 4-Week Class | Tuesdays 10am - 1pm

If you’re in Portland, Oregon and looking for a last minute 4 week Handbuilding class this is for you! We’ll coil build and slab build mugs as well as learn about underglaze and glazing. And…it’s $50 off?!?!?!?

www.morningceramics.com/events-1/mug...

Handpainted Fight Me Porcelain Cup with Mint Green Hair and Pink Handle — Erika Rier This little porcelain cup feature a woman with mint green hair saying Fight Me and a pink handle that turns into a bow. This cup was slab built. I then attached a pulled handle and nose before I ha...

The 25% off sale I’m having in my brand new Etsy-less web shop is going strong! Still a few ceramics left and always lots of zines:

www.erikarier.com/shop/handpai...

Last year after their last big blunder I promised myself that I would leave the moment they messed up again. Honestly feel so relieved to have finally have made the transition.

Thank you so much! It was helpful in the end that the best solution worked as an add on to my existing site which oddly hasn’t been a great option last time I researched this.

Yes! I’ve found with shipping rates what they are right now that’s usually the best route to take. Thank you!

It’s massive!!! I’ve been there forever!!! Thank you❤️

Thank you! I only do international shipping through private messages just to make sure I’m getting you the best price on shipping that I can.

Me too!

Thank you so much!! That really means so much to me because this was a very scary decision for me❤️

Shop — Erika Rier

Alright friends, I said I’d do it and now I’ve done it: After being on Etsy since the very beginning I left today. To celebrate, I’m having a 25% off sale in my new shop.

www.erikarier.com/shop