Artist Bio

Welcome to Muddy Water Studio. My name is Carolyn Sterling. I have been creating with clay since the mid 1970s. I am the hands and heart behind Muddy Water Studio.

I spend a lot of time in my own head and in my own big creative world. I have been deeply connected to creating with clay for a long time, and this connection sits at the center of who I am. I do not care to plan what I am making, but rather allow my thoughts and my hands to take each piece where it is intended. 

I was born in Chicago IL, sibling to five sisters. I left for California in my teen years where I learned so much about myself living in the SoCal mountains. Many years later moving to the country in Virginia and finding a whole new beautiful southern life. This is the life I prefer (except the cold winters). I love gardening, growing and canning so many of the foods we eat, spending time with family, our animals, and the peacefulness of living in the country. All of my pottery is created from start to finish in my home studio. I also recently started making and using tallow cream. All of my tallow is sourced from a regenerative farm that uses ethical practices.  All of the cows are grass fed to finish, given no antibiotics (including no mrna vaccines), and are free to roam the earth. I only use botanicals. Never essential oils. Organic Jojoba oil and Vitamin E oil and Madagascar vanilla beans are the only other ingredients used to ensure the purest tallow possible.

Along the road of life I have been a pediatric RN, now retired and fighting an incurable cancer battle. I am currently in remission and enjoying life each day. I hope that you enjoy looking at my wares, and if you choose to purchase, I thank you so very much. 

Carolyn