Artist Statement

About Me

Thank you so much for stopping by! My name is Ari. I'm a young woman of color, artist, and graduate student who has the absolute honor of running The Clay Water Lily!

Artistic Journey

My artistic journey started at 12 years old with a set of graphite pencils. Filling sketchbooks with black and white sketches, I soon moved to color. Between the ages of 14 and 18, I won numerous awards for my colored pencil work. During that time, I also experimented with charcoal, pastel, watercolor, and acrylics, moving between the mediums. My heart was full!

Store History

Although my artistic journey stalled as a college student, in 2019 I began to dream about owning my own store and sharing my art with others.

In April of 2020, I began experimenting with resin and launched my first store in July selling primarily resin art. In late August, I got my hands on my very first set of polymer clay and the rest is history. This medium immediately won my heart and in November of 2020, I relaunched as The Clay Water Lily.

The Store's Name

As a young artist, Claude Monet's "Water Lilies" always held my admiration and it was impressionists and post-impressionists like him and Van Gogh that inspired me to continue creating. When thinking of a name for this store, water lilies came to mind because of their symbolism for tranquility and hope; recalling my childhood artistic endeavors, I choose The Clay Water Lily as a name that would encompass my artistic origins and inspirations. 

Thank you then for allowing me to share my art with you. 

I know the little girl creating in her bedroom all those years ago is relieved to finally get the chance to create so freely. 

I can only hope creatives and others recognize themselves in my story and are inspired. 

 “What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?”
- Vincent Van Gogh