Violet Robles likes to turn mud into stone. Originally from LA, Violet enjoyed a long career as a chef until she left the industry at the beginning of the COVID pandemic to focus on a hemp business she runs with her husband. She’s lived in Bend since 2010 and decided to take a ceramics class when she was needing a hobby. It stuck. She got a cubby at Mud Lake in 2020 and eventually moved to a private studio which she shares with Rachel from Mountain Sun. 

Violet appreciates the permanence of the creation she experiences with pots; A thumbprint in the clay could be found hundreds of years from now. She identifies as a “producer of things” and she likes to work with her hands. Violets work is permeated with found things; bone, wood, seashells, feathers, beach glass and the likes are both literally incorporated and used as textures to print with. She creates through a mix of wheel-throwing, altering, and hand-building and her work includes sculpture, platters, decorations, windchimes bells, and talismans. “Robles” means oak in Spanish, leading to her handle Violet Oaks and the motif of an acorn can be found across her work. 

When not occupied by her ceramics or her hemp business, Violet takes care to find time to spend with family. She’s been with her husband since culinary school, over 2 decades ago, and they have one kiddo and two dogs. The kiddo runs track and plays baseball and just started taking art classes. 

You can find Violet’s work at the studio as well as the locavore and Mothers Juice Cafes and her mugs are available at rootedhempco.com She will also be working several farmers markets and events throughout the summer! Follow along @violetoakstudio.