My name is Athena Mariah LaRue, I am a Ceramic Artist based out of Modesto, California. People always ask me, ‘What’s with the snails?”. How long do you have so we can sit down and have a philosophical discussion on how and why I identify with the snail so much? Starting from when I was just a little girl, but that discussion might be better for a therapist? But the short answer for my business name, it just fits since my process is SO SLOW! My mascot Herbert the Hard Shell Slimy Snail is a great representation for my art style, he is a little sweet and spicy, squishy and tough. And even though I take my art very seriously, I try hard not to make anything too serious.

This website is my hub for people to stay in touch with what I’m making. Be sure to check out my online store to see what goodies I have for sale. Or keep up to date with my YouTube videos to see my Making Process and Free Online Workshops. If you would like to be a part of the Hard Shell Slimy Snail club you can join my Patreon and be automatically entered into any giveaways that I have.

Athena Mariah is a multi-talented artist whose work spans the realms of fine art, whimsical creations, ceramics, and painting. With a passion for blending technique and imagination, Athena Mariah brings a unique perspective to each medium, creating pieces that evoke both thought and wonder. Whether through the delicate strokes of oil on canvas, the playful forms of a ceramic sculpture, or the dreamlike quality of a whimsical illustration, Athena Mariah invites viewers into a world where the boundaries of reality and fantasy blur. Her work seamlessly combines craftsmanship with storytelling, offering a fresh, joyful, and introspective take on the world around us. Through her art, Athena Mariah explores themes of nature and whimsy creating a body of work that resonates with both the heart and the imagination.