ABOUT THE ARTIST
Derek Voien was finishing his Biology Degree at U.C.Irvine and applying to medical school, when he took his first ceramics class as a lark. It was his first art class. He got accepted into Medical School soon after, but deferred for one year to finish his Molecular Biology lab research. During that year, he took another ceramic class, and then another. By the time he concluded his science research and was scheduled to leave for Medical School, he had discovered his passion was art. In a leap of faith, he turned down Medical School, bought a kiln and a wheel, and pursued what many thought was a crazy dream to become an artist.
He subsequently earned a Ceramic Scholarship and garnered numerous Ceramic Awards. He has been part of a feature story in the San Diego Home and Garden magazine. He has been juried into many prestigious art shows, including the Laguna Beach Festival of Arts.
Being an artist is a process of finding your voice, finding your joy, and allowing the act of creation to evolve and transform you and your work. Patience and a little humor helps too.
He subsequently earned a Ceramic Scholarship and garnered numerous Ceramic Awards. He has been part of a feature story in the San Diego Home and Garden magazine. He has been juried into many prestigious art shows, including the Laguna Beach Festival of Arts.
Being an artist is a process of finding your voice, finding your joy, and allowing the act of creation to evolve and transform you and your work. Patience and a little humor helps too.
ARTIST STATEMENT
I am a ceramic artist. I take clay, water, fire, and minerals, transforming and alchemizing these elements into objects of use and, I hope, beauty. I find myself drawn to opposites; contemporary vs. ancient, linear vs. organic, thrown vessels vs. handbuilt ones, warm rich colors vs. cool calming colors. |