How do you decide on the color palette for a craft sculpture—do you follow trends or personal preference?

When I sit down to decide the color palette for a craft sculpture, the process is deeply personal. Trends are like fleeting whispers in a crowded room—I hear them, but I rarely let them dictate the conversation between my hands and the material. Instead, I start by asking the sculpture itself: What story does this shape want to tell? Each curve, texture, and form already suggests a mood. A rough, organic shape might whisper for earthy ochres and deep forest greens, while a sleek, flowing figure could practically demand a bold, single-tone finish like matte black or blush pink.

My personal preference is the real compass. I follow a simple rule: I choose colors that spark an emotional response in me first—something that makes my heart skip when I glaze a test tile. That might be an unexpected pairing like turquoise with burnt sienna or a layered gradient from lavender to charcoal. I’ve learned that when I truly love the palette, the viewer can feel that authenticity. Trends, like "millennial pink" or "terracotta everything," can serve as inspiration for a small accent or a playful twist, but I never force a trendy hue onto a piece that resists it.

Moreover, I consider the physics of the material. Certain clays and glazes react differently under heat, so I prototype small swatches to see how a color morphs in the kiln. This practical experimentation often leads me to a unique palette that no trend could predict. In the end, my process is a dance between intuition, material honesty, and a quiet respect for the visual language that trends offer—but my hand always holds the lead.