Cass Stark
she/her
Bad Mood Studio is a small-batch ceramics studio run by Cass Stark, located in Saskatoon, SK. Each ceramic piece is handcrafted using techniques such as sgraffito or mishima, featuring carved designs that frequently incorporate animals, creatures, and flowers. Bad Mood’s illustration ranges from playful and delightful to uncanny and melancholic.
Cass hand-builds and hand-carves each piece with prairie-sourced stoneware clay, which gives variance and uniqueness to each object. The personal and deliberate process of carving and handbuilding ensures that each work retains its distinctive charm: something you can hold and feel connected to, from the ritualistic sip of coffee to the cradle of flowers in a small vase.
What is your inspiration?
Much of my inspiration is drawn from folkloric illustrations and patterns. I have always had an affinity for drawings of cats, dogs, and creatures of all kinds. While my work can have a playful tone, some works have a sense of uncanniness, vulnerability or melancholy.
What would you like people to know about your work?
I use prairie-sourced stoneware clay, and I hand-build and hand-carve each piece, which gives variance and uniqueness to each object. The personal and deliberate process of carving and handbuilding ensures that each work retains a distinctive charm.
Where did your learn your craft?
I learned my craft through my sister, Maia Stark, as well as through online workshops and tutorials.
