Hi! My name is Lara Putt, I’m 22 years old and grew up and live near Bridgwater close to the gorgeous Quantock Hills. Since I was young, I’ve been fascinated by art and later turned my fascination towards pottery. I’ve always thought there’s something magical about taking raw clay and turning it into something beautiful and functional with your hands. My journey into ceramics has been one of constant learning, and I’m always looking for ways to challenge myself and experiment with new styles and techniques.
On Saturday the 2nd of November I had the chance to be part of an arts popup event called Create the Future, held at Angel Place Shopping Centre right here in Bridgwater. It was a fantastic opportunity to display my work and connect with the local community, sharing the joy and craft of ceramics with everyone who came by. When I heard about Create the Future, I knew it would be the perfect place to meet other creative people, get inspired and inspire others!
The popup was buzzing with energy and excitement from the start! There were artists from all around, each bringing their unique craft! I set up my wheel and was immediately shown interest by passers by wondering what was going on — I loved being able to talk to people about the processes involved in ceramics and how each piece was made.
I absolutely loved giving demonstrations and teaching lots of curious children how to throw on the wheel, not to mention being surprised by their enthusiasm and skill! I think they really enjoyed being able to make something themselves whilst also getting their hands mucky (who wouldn’t!). It was so rewarding to share my passion with everyone that came by.
The experience really boosted my confidence in putting my work out there and showed me that Bridgwater has such a supportive community for the arts. I even had some great chats with other artists and visitors who were eager to try ceramics themselves—I think I may have inspired a few future potters!
This event gave me the chance to connect with my community and reminded me of how much art can bring people together. By the end of the day, I felt more inspired and motivated than ever to keep creating, and I can’t wait for what’s next.
I am extremely grateful for the experience and how friendly everyone from Seed was and also especially grateful for my wonderful mum who helped me set up and stayed the whole day, creating Christmas ornaments out of air dry clay while people waited for their turn on the wheel.
I had such a fantastic day and I hope to be able to do more teaching and community events in the future!
on Instagram where you can find links to my online shop and where I post my new stuff!