Finding Freedom in Process

For artist Meghan Merkey, clay is both humbling and empowering

By Ellen Miller | July 25, 2026

Ceramicist Meghan Merkey probably could have fallen in love with any art form. And yet as a young creative, it was clay that drew her in. “I grew up in a house that was very creative,” she says. “There were always projects to do; there was always a craft around.” 

Both of Merkey’s parents were artsy, and she was about 12 years old when she worked with clay for the first time. “My parents got me into this class,” she remembers. “I was hooked.”

Merkey, who creates and sells ceramic work as Ignite Creative Studios, has now been working with clay for about 30 years. She grew up in Maryland, just outside DC, and Houghton, in the Upper Peninsula. 

“Interestingly, when I grew up in Houghton, there was quite a bit of art exposure up there. There was an arts center I was a part of all through high school where I had access to clay,” she says. “I grew up coming here every summer. I explored the waters, hiked the dunes, and hunted for Petoskey Stones. So, when my husband and I had the opportunity to live here, it felt like an absolute dream. This place is full of natural wonder, and I am so fortunate to be able to keep exploring, keep learning and soaking up the inspiration that comes with all the different seasons this area has to offer.”

The Medium
“If I hadn’t had access to clay, maybe I would have found something else,” Merkey says. “I was drawn to the tactile nature of it. Clay is really humbling! It’s such a process driven medium. At any stage of the process, something can go wrong.” 

She says there is a sort of freedom in knowing that a piece may not work out

“You’re able to let go of things a little easier. On a personal level, it’s helped me throughout my life to learn that maybe I don’t need to take everything so seriously. The process really is something that called to me and kept me with it. I was lucky to have access to clay,” she reflects.

Merkey works primarily with stoneware clay, which she describes as the most functional clay. Ignite Creative Studio’s offerings include a variety of functional and beautiful ceramic items ranging from vases and sculptures to spoon rests, dishes, mugs, and more. Each item features designs hand-drawn by Merkey. 

“The inspiration for my drawings all comes really from what I’m exposed to; I’ve noticed it’s very influenced by what I’m around,” she says. “Florals are probably my favorite to draw. They’re very whimsical, and a lot are native flowers to Michigan. Just this morning I was drawing my mugs, and it was very organic and nature driven.” Merkey also often utilizes the Petoskey stone as design inspiration.

The Process
“The process with clay is: you take this ball of essentially mud to form a vessel,” Merkey explains. “I use what’s called a slip, the white part on the pieces, to make the designs. I apply the slip while the piece is still green, which means it has not been fired. Then it goes into the kiln for its first firing, the bisque fire.” 

Merkey freehands all of her designs, using a pencil to make a rough outline “to get the composition the way I want. Then it goes on with what’s called an underglaze, a pigment that can be fired. Finally, I glaze the piece with a clear glaze and then it goes back in the kiln for the firing,” she explains. 

Merkey primarily creates functional pieces, things that people can use in their everyday lives. In college, where she studied ceramics, she did more sculptural work. 

“I’ve been feeling more drawn to that again,” she says. “Creativity is an interesting thing; it’s problem solving! In my work today, I want to make a functional piece, but I want it to look sculptural.” 

Her favorite item to make right now is a garlic rasp, a small dish with raised bumps in the center where you can grate garlic. 

“I’ve been developing a floral version; in the flower, where all the petals come together is where you use the scraper,” she says. “The form is very organic and natural. The way I create every piece is completely different, and no two are the same. It’s sort of exactly how the natural world is, which feels really connected to me!” 

Merkey also enjoys making travel mugs, which she says are a lot of fun to use too. “It’s a tumbler with a guard on the top, so you can put it in your car and it doesn’t splash around as much, which makes it more travel friendly,” she says. 

The Future
Like many artists, Merkey has to balance creating things she finds interesting with what people will buy (the garlic rasp hits both!). As a working artist, she’s also figuring out firsthand how to balance art with technology during the age of social media and AI. 

“It has been interesting,” she shares. “I’m almost 40, so I was around for the rise of the internet, and a part of the beginning of social media. There’s so many things that feel like barriers and can feel more disingenuous, but I also think on the flip side, never has there been a time where you’ve been able to reach as many people as we can now.”

Merkey has found this challenging, but one positive has been being able to share her process with people via social media. She also feels that in the past few years people have really been seeking out unique products, rather than just something you could buy at a big-box store. 

“As a consumer myself it’s exciting to find something that really speaks to you,” she says. “That’s what art does. That’s the goal of the artist too, to make something that someone feels a connection to. That’s what I really try to do with my work. I also try to make a connection with nature. We’re living in this society that’s so ‘go go go.’ Take a step back, slow down. That’s what ceramics does for me. I have to slow down.”

At the end of the day, it’s all about creating art that has meaning.

“I’ve seen this desire to feel more connected to the pieces you have in your home, the things you put in your cupboards, on walls, the mug you grab every day. Those are the people I’m trying to find and that I hope find me,” Merkey concludes. “I want to make things that are heirlooms, that are artifacts, the mug you really want to grab every day, the pieces you bring out when you have people over. When I think about my stuff being out in the world, which is bizarre and humbling, I’m seeking that connectedness, and I hope my audience seeks the same thing.”

Ignite Creative Studios products are available online at ignitecreativestudiodesigns.com and at select markets throughout the year, including the weekly Leland farmers market on summer Thursdays. The schedule is posted on Merkey’s Instagram, @ignitecreativestudio.