Brecken Stockmar Artist Spotlight

Brecken Stockmar grew up with a 20-acre forest in his backyard, an experience which solidified the natural world as a consistent source of inspiration for his pottery. His years spent playing in the woods of Bellingham, Washington, were nothing short of formative. Sharing space and time amidst the magical expanse of trees, ferns, and fungi led to Brecken developing a deep respect for the land—a reverence that he expresses through artistic practice.

Brecken, who has had an artistic inclination from a young age, began by expressing his profound passion for the environment through various two-dimensional mediums such as painting, and didn’t truly unearth his affinity for clay until high school. In transitioning to a three-dimensional art form, Brecken was struck by the tactile nature of a finished piece of work. The physical interaction between a handmade object and the person using it creates an innate, intimate connection to the artist.

“A friend once said to me that whenever she uses a cup made by an artist, it’s like she’s having tea or having dinner with that person,” Brecken said. “I really resonate with that.”

A crooked handle, an inconsistent line, or a fingerprint in the clay are not imperfections in Brecken’s eyes but the mark of the artist. But Brecken takes a different approach to incorporating his artistic mark into his work by depicting the natural environment of the Pacific Northwest on his ceramics. Using a technique called sgraffito, he carves mountains, ferns, and fuzzy critters into a layer of wet underglaze, exposing the clay below. This technique allows his two-dimensional skills to take a new form.

“A painting looks great on the wall, but you can’t do much with it,” Brecken said. “It’s fun to be able to make bowls and cups that can be used every day but still have my two-dimensional work on it.”

Now, at just 22 years old, Brecken is the new owner of Baker Creek Ceramic Studio. Baker Creek opened its doors in 2010, offering classes and studio space for ceramic artists to hone their craft. The original owner, Deb McCunn, brought Brecken under her wing, initially just helping run the studio. Deb saw an undeniable passion within Brecken after overseeing him teach classes at age 19.

“Deb really fostered a community that I’m trying to continue to foster,” Brecken said. “I think she saw that and realized I knew the people, I knew the place, I knew how everything was working. So, two and a half years ago, she said, ‘Hey, I’m thinking about retiring. If you are interested in taking over, you can.’”

It’s an artist’s dream to turn their passion into a full-time career, and by acquiring the studio, Brecken was well on his way. But like most creatives, Brecken dreams big and isn’t finished making his mark on the clay community. In a world where environmental issues are increasingly pressing, Brecken wishes to continue creating more large-scale, sculptural pieces that shed light on the human impact on the environment. He believes art has the power to provoke thought and inspire change. His work clearly embodies this purpose.

With aspirations to become a professor at the university level, his dedication to advancing his own knowledge and sharing it with others reflects a desire to impact the future of ceramic arts. But at the core of everything that Brecken has done and aspires to do is cultivating a sense of community.

“We’re a family here,” Brecken said, referring to not only Baker Creek, but the Northwest ceramic community at large. “Everyone’s friends, we all are happy to see each other, and we want each other to grow and pursue our shared passion.”