2022 Surf Art Calendar
February
“Ocean Inspired”
By: Peir Serota
STORY BEHIND THE IMAGE
A series of bud vases inspired by the beaches of Manhattan Beach as the wide expanse of light colored sand meets the blue/turquoise water of the Pacific Ocean on a clear and bright, sunny summer day. The glaze combination of Acero (sand color) and Matt Turquoise (Ocean) were sprayed onto vessels to achieve an ombre affect.
PERSONAL CONNECTION
The saying “A teacher appears, when the student is ready” applies to how I met Peir… where a brief conversation with her husband Jeff (who I play soccer with) watching the World Cup at a local pub after one of our games turned into an opportunity that would help propel my career. I was fortunate to represent the Serotas in the off-market sale of their house in the Tree Section of Manhattan Beach at a very early time in my Real Estate career, where we worked together to pull off a seemingly impossible ask and it put me on track to work with some of the top producers in the company. They showed a fairness and trust that made me a better student and I owe them a debt of gratitude for believing in me.
My goal with highlighting Peir’s work in ceramics for the surf calendar is to show that inspiration from the ocean and expression of that inspiration can come out in many forms, not just in pictures or paintings. The Serotas are an amazing family, grateful to call them friends, and I am happy Peir has shared her talents with us.
ARTIST BIO
Born and raised on the East coast (PA & CT), Peir Serota earned a B.A. of Psychology at the University of Connecticut, lived in Boston then made her way to California in 1996. Peir worked as a wrangler on a dude ranch and pursued a career in Advertising working on titles such as Runner’s World, Bicycling and Mountain Bike Magazines then later joining Regal Cinemedia. She met her husband, Jeff Serota while training for Adventure Racing and that’s when their adventure began. As Peir raised her children (daughter Roen and son Race), she taught for the Manhattan Beach School District’s Young at Art program. After the birth of her first child, Peir discovered the City of Manhattan Beach ceramic program and fell in love with pottery. As she says… “I Love to Play with Clay! Creating functional pieces made from material that came from the earth and using them in your every day life… there is something so rewarding and centering about that.” Peir now works from her home studio as well as her local city studio. She has found a home within the ceramic community here in Manhattan Beach. “We are so fortunate to have such a breadth of artistic talent in our town… it is truly inspiring.” You can often find her work locally at Gum Tree, at handmadebypeir.com and on Instagram @handmadebypeir.
