"I love the possibility of creating and decorating objects with my hands. Ceramics are a material with which I can allow my imagination to fly."
Imelda Servín is a young designer of contemporary ceramics. The result is a high-quality, perfected craft.
"I love the possibility of creating and decorating objects with my hands," Imelda says. "Ceramics are a material with which I can allow my imagination to fly."
Imelda was born into a family of artisans and learned to create and decorate from a young age.
"When I was a girl, I played with ceramics, making clay figures. Aside from attending school, I loved to create things. I crafted my own toys and it made me very happy. I started when I was around six years old and, by the time I was 13 or 14, I had acquired the experience to make a piece from start to finish.
"My parents and older siblings taught me this craft. Now I teach my children how to do this work. I also taught my husband while we were dating and now we share the work in our workshop."
One of the most difficult moments that Imelda faced was when she had a high-risk pregnancy with her first daughter and had to end her professional career. After having her family and obtaining her workshop and business, she was more committed to her work.
"It's an experience with a lot of challenges, but at the same time it's very satisfying because being your own boss, you're more demanding and your own effort is your reward."
The entire family is involved in the creation of the pieces, contributing ideas, designing and creating. Imelda's husband prepares the clay, then forms and polishes the pieces. Imelda designs and decorates the pieces. Her daughter designs and decorates new objects while her son makes them in molds and polishes them.
The Servín family creates their own mix and tools to craft their pieces.
"We use natural materials like clay, kaolin, silica, feldspar, gray talc, bentonite, etc. We obtain our materials from ceramic material distributors. We prepare a special formula as well as making our own glazes with which we decorate and the brushes, etc."
Aside from having her family involved in the business, Imelda says her favorite part is giving her imagination a form.
"What I like the most is the ability to create art with my hands and to embody my ideas and inspirations," she says.
Imelda seeks to grow her family business so that she can open sources of work for women who need it, by making her workshop larger and creating new designs.
"I love the idea of showing my handmade, high-fired ceramic pieces with unique designs to different parts of the world, thanks to Novica."