In 1966, at age seven I knew already what it was I liked to play with… Clay! 

My first 10 years I grew up in Amsterdam, Holland. My dad had a little studio in the basement where he used to practice his artistic talents using clay modeling and woodcarving. I loved to be around doing my own stuff with clay.. this was his best option to keep me distracted while he worked on his art pieces.

Little did he know that he was “proofing” a future potter in his studio…

In 1969 we moved back to Caracas, Venezuela

Fast forward to 1990…

When I took my first class in wheel throwing I was hooked from day one.

Inspiration came from everywhere, specially living surrounded by nature in the suburban mountain area called “El Gavilan” near Caracas, in Venezuela. Soon it became a full time business for me and I sold my work to different galleries and gift shops in my area El Hatillo Caracas.

Many pots later…

After moving to Miami with my family in 1998, starting a new chapter in my life, I established NelaCeramics. Surrounded by a whole new ambience, my work took a total twist which was naturally inspired by the vibrance and glamour of the Tropical nature in South Florida..

Since then, twenty some years later and after escaping successfully a few hurricanes, I keep working on new creations only on a much slower pace since I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2020. 

I just have said how this journey started and we probably know how it will eventually end as well… But not without a fight. That’s for sure!

Pottery vs. Parkinson’s…

It’s been pretty challenging although not impossible yet

I won’t deny it has become a battle for me to get up in the morning as tired or worse than I was when I went to bed the night before.

Dealing with this new condition has given me the strength to keep working at a different pace without extenuating myself which is giving my work a new twist in the results.