That 4 o'clock feeling - Conversations with Diana from AnaLee Clay
- Patricia H. Ayala Photography
- May 13
- 3 min read
Moved by nature and its cycles, Diana finds inspiration in the natural world, in light, in how it gets reflected on the objects, the trees, the walls, and how it comes through her studio window; she dwells in its ability to set different moods and shape your thoughts.
Just like us, clay has memory. And her work holds her story and her soul as an artist.
Diana started her artistic journey by drawing from a very young age. She took art classes and practiced drawing until she was 19. But one day, she realized that although she loved it, she didn’t feel it was her calling. So she started experimenting with different mediums and materials, different art forms that helped her narrow down her options until she found clay. She felt an instant connection to this material and fell in love with it.
After 4 years of focused study, Diana majored in Pottery and decided that her passion would become her work. But after a few years of working with kids, Diana moved to the United States, and her life took a different turn.
After getting married and having her first baby, her craft was put on hold. But she never stopped loving her art, and she eventually found herself wanting to go back to her passion. That’s when her neighbor and best friend, Ellen, opened this new door for her. Ellen had been doing pottery for 50 years and had a small studio in her garage. She gave Diana the opportunity to play with clay again.
So in this messy but magical space full of Knick-knacks, clutter, and hard work, Diana found a space to reconnect with her art. As soon as the smell of wet clay hit her senses, she knew it was time to go back to her passion, and this time, she was going to make it work.
Starting with one wheel and a lot of guts, 4 years later, Diana has a warm, cozy studio she calls her own.
For Diana, working with clay is like working with her favorite person. She feels it’s a collaborative event, where the process goes somewhere she didn’t really plan. Patience and letting go are part of this craft as much as you need the tools and equipment to create it.
Pottery gives her the space to be quiet with her own mind and focus on the task at hand.
Like any true artist, Diana's ideas come to mind in the least expected moments, and her mind is always searching for new designs, colors, and textures to create. She’s inspired by nature and light and searches for the right shapes and colors to bring beautiful, cozy, and unique pieces to life.
Functional art is the way Diana describes her work. She offers us the opportunity to have a work of art in our homes that we get to use on a daily basis and make part of our lives. Her focus is not simply on creating the object, but on how that object will behave once it belongs to someone else.
She says her work goes beyond functionality, and we, as clients, are the ones who really finish the work when fulfilling the purpose of each piece. She thinks of how that particular object will feel and look when it’s being used. How the color of coffee or tea will blend with the one in the piece. Her work involves the whole experience, and she hopes to make every creation as unique and special as possible so each one of us lucky enough to find her work gets to experience art in our everyday lives.
Being a mom and a Christian shapes Diana’s practice. Becoming a mother has let her rediscover bright colors and fun, interesting combinations that have broadened her creativity. And with her faith, she finishes the pieces by adding three dots representing the holy trinity and praying - sending a little blessing to the people that ends up owning them later.
“4 o’clock” is the way she describes her work. That feeling of calm, the perfect time between the rush of the day and the chaotic nighttime routines when you have little ones to care for. Is that moment when the late afternoon light enters her studio in the most perfect way, setting the tone for the moment, letting her breathe easily, think clearly, and create magic.
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