Meet Dorandy Mercado | Sculpture Artist & Potter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dorandy Mercado and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dorandy, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I am a conceptual sculpture artist by trade. My creative process is lengthy and tedious, I require a considerable amount of time and concentration to execute my ideas through mixed media and clay sculpting. When I partnered with a friend to open L Mercado Art Studios, I found myself creating less and working more on the business side of the studio. With a demanding busy schedule and still having the unsatisfied need to create, I started making functional pottery. I found myself having instant gratification when I made something on the potters wheel that probably took make a couple of hours to make versus spending weeks or months on a sculpture. I found myself simplifying my life so that I would have more time to spend on things that truly mattered. For me, that was running my studio, making pottery and spending time with close friends and family. I simplified everything in my personal life from my wardrobe, my house decor, furniture , art supplies, as well as the kinds of pottery that I was making. I spent less time figuring out what to wear and more time making things. I only utilized one or two glazes that I allowed myself to use to decorate pottery. Therefore, I spent less time deciding what colors to use. I also only used one or two different clay bodies in my work. I found it aesthetically pleasing to leave most of the clay body exposed. This is the story behind Ceramica D Mercado. I make simple pottery for the minimalist. My philosophy is “less is more!”.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
When it comes to sculpting, I work in the moment. I can get lost in my thoughts and the process, I create from within and find inspiration from my own experiences and emotions . I am not concerned with what people might think about my art or if they are going to like it. I create for myself. My art is like my diary that I make public, a summary of my life written with 3 dimensional images that are clear enough to see that something is there but it’s up to the viewer to make up what it is. When it comes to my functional pottery, I am intentional and deliberate . The work has to serve a purpose, I am concerned with the aesthetics and function. The object has to be simple enough to blend in with the decor and stand out at the same time. With my functional work, I find value in both negative and positive feedback because it allows me to perfect the product or continue to make products that are meeting my customers needs. What I am most excited about is creating and growing a brand that truly represents me and who I am. It wasn’t easy for me to get to this point, I really had to work hard and make a lot of sacrifices to get to where I am today. It is going to take a lot more work to get to where I want to be. I have learned in life to work hard and collaborate with others to help create a supportive community that will not only help my personal business grow but also others around me.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If a friend is visiting the area we would first go to the beach. I will take him/her to this nice secluded area on Dania Beach by the pier. I would make sure to take my friend to have the best gelato in town at Tasta Gelato in downtown Hollywood Florida. If we weren’t going through a pandemic, I would probably take my friend to see an independent/foreign film at Cinema Paradiso also in downtown Hollywood . I like to be physically active so do most of my friends, so we would probably spent the rest of the time doing outdoor and water activities such as biking, kayaking, paddle boarding and windsurfing

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate this shoutout to my students and patrons that have followed me throughout the years and have become like family to me. Their continued support even during these uncertain times have encourage me to stay focused, follow my passion, and continue to grow as an artist and successful businesswoman.

Website: Ceramicadmercado.com
Instagram: Ceramica_d_mercado
Linkedin: Dorandy Mercado
Facebook: ceramica_d_mercado
Other: Other Instagram accounts: dorandy_mercado mercado_studios Other sites: Dorandymercado.comy

Image Credits
Dorandy Mercado Mixed media collective