Watch the Mesmerizing Process Behind This Handmade Artisan Tile
Describing the look of Metolius Ridge Artisan Tile is a surprisingly hard thing to do: At first glance, the pieces have a distinctly Southwestern feel, due in part to the technique used to paint them. (Called cuerda seca, or “dry line,” it employs wax to create patterns before glazing; the wax melts off during firing.) But then you notice the Arts and Crafts influence, the Japanese kimono–inspired florals, the medieval European iconography. “I remember someone once called it ‘world rustic,’ ” says the brand’s founder, Justyn Livingston.
The former textile designer spent time in Romania, Tonga, and Guatemala before settling in Bend, Oregon, where she founded the company in 1995. (It's named after the nearby Metolius river, which Livingston describes as "the most beautiful place on Earth.") "I asked myself what I wanted to do, and I decided that I wanted to be a maker," recalls Livingston. She found herself drawn to ceramics, and, more specifically, painting tile.
Every Metolius Ridge tile is made to order. The process begins with a "bisque," or blank; Livingston then applies the wax resist and glaze (many of which are custom mixed) to the tile before firing. No two come out exactly alike. "It's all about the alchemy, the relationship of the glaze on the bisque," says Livingston. "The consistent inconsistency is probably the most challenging thing about what I do, but the imperfections are part of the process. People have to be willing to understand and embrace that."
The studio itself is also exceedingly eco-friendly: The thick-walled kilns are powered by green energy, the company car runs on biodiesel, and Livingston and her team make an effort to minimize waste in the production process.
Livingston often works with clients to create custom installations, from fireplace surrounds and backsplashes to wall-spanning murals. Her work is especially suited to historic homes that need tile cut to exact specifications. "The design process is an evolution—someone will say, here's the space, and here's what I want to include," she explains. Perhaps that means adding birds and fruit from a book of Italian still life paintings, or maybe a ribbon motif pulled from a Williams Morris wallpaper. "It becomes an amalgamation of influences," she adds.
The finished product, while labor intensive, is a truly one-of-a-kind work of art. “It’s a serious investment, and I want people to have something timeless that grows with them,” she says. “My intention is to create designs with a spirit of their own.”
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