Shaping Your Pottery with Nic Torres

In this episode of Shaping Your Pottery, Julianne Roush shares her inspirational journey as a full-time potter. She discusses how positive quotes on her pottery helped her through personal struggles and connected with others, the influence of mentors and the internet on her career, and the evolution of her unique style inspired by carnivals, circuses, and old theaters. Julianne highlights the importance of making art you love, finding your unique voice, and the challenges she faced transitioning from business to pottery. She also gives practical advice for aspiring potters on embracing personal style, leveraging social media, and the business aspects of pottery. You can learn more about Juliann by checking out her instagram https://www.instagram.com/juliannroush/ Get your 53 themes by clicking this link shapingyourpottery.com/53themes 00:00 Introduction and Motivation 00:35 Early Pottery Journey 02:28 Positive Quotes and Self-Healing 04:56 Artistic Inspirations and Style 13:35 Transition to Full-Time Potter 19:33 Business Insights and Advice 21:15 Finding Your Unique Voice 25:13 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Join The Shaping Your Pottery Newsletter By Clicking This Link shapingyourpottery.com/newsletter This episode features an intimate conversation with Lucy Be Phillips, a potter known for her slip-decorated teapots and unique ceramic pieces. Lucy shares her journey from studying sculpture and feeling unfulfilled by conceptual art to discovering a profound connection with pottery. Early fears of surface decoration led to years of focus on form and function until her experiences, particularly an influential stint in Italy and an introspective period while decorating her tiny house, encouraged her to experiment with color and design. Lucy discusses the discipline learned from various pottery practices, including wood firing and apprenticeships, and how these experiences shaped her approach and technique. Teaching pottery has allowed Lucy to reflect on her process and learn from students, underscoring the importance of embracing one's unique voice. She highlights the significance of patience in selling one's work, finding the right market, and the transformative power of recognizing and pursuing one's true artistic direction. Lucy’s story is a testament to the idea that the journey of a potter is long, filled with learning, personal growth, and the continuous discovery of one's voice within the craft. You can learn more about Lucy by checking out her Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lucy_be.ceramics/ 00:00 Welcome to Shaping Your Pottery: The Journey Begins 00:14 Discovering Pottery: Lucy B Phillips' Story 00:24 Overcoming Fear: The Art of Surface Decoration 03:50 From Mud Australia to Italian Mastery: A Potter's Evolution 10:42 Embracing Whimsy: The Creative Process Unveiled 15:43 The Business of Pottery: Making a Living from Your Craft 17:14 Teaching Pottery: Sharing Knowledge and Finding Joy 20:32 Finding Your Voice: The Path to Unique Pottery 27:48 Final Thoughts: Embracing the Pottery Journey

This Episode features an interview with potter Don Ricardo, who shares insights into his pottery journey, emphasizing experimentation, fun, and the essence of enjoying the process over commercial success. He reveals how he started pottery to create specific containers for his plants and how this led to a broader appreciation for his unique creations. Ricardo discusses the importance of trusting the journey, not focusing on the destination, and how various creative experiences contributed to his growth as an artist. He criticizes the commercialization of art and stresses making art for self-fulfillment, illustrated through his 'muffin story.' Ricardo also highlights his development from creating functional pottery to expressive art pieces, motivated by his concern for the environment and ancient civilizations. The interview delves into his unique, self-made pottery tools and unconventional techniques, emphasizing that one doesn't need expensive tools to create pottery. Finally, Ricardo offers advice to aspiring potters on finding their unique voice by researching, experimenting, and breaking norms. You can learn more about Don by checking out his Instagram @don_ricardo_ceramics Join The Shaping Your Pottery Newsletter and Learn New Pottery Techniques By Clicking This Link shapingyourpottery.com/newsletter 00:00 Kicking Off with Pottery Passion: The Basics and Beyond 00:46 The Journey Begins: From Necessity to Creativity 01:51 Embracing the Journey: Trusting the Process and Avoiding Traps 05:41 The Muffin Story: A Lesson in Creativity and Authenticity 07:41 Exploring New Horizons: The Evolution of Pottery Art 12:40 Crafting with Simplicity: The Art of Using Minimal Tools 21:00 Discovering Your Voice in Pottery: Tips and Techniques 31:36 Wrapping Up: The Essence of Making Art for Oneself

In this episode of 'Shaping Your Pottery', potter Kym Owens shares her personal journey from ballet dancer to becoming a successful potter, offering advice for aspiring artists on perseverance, mentorship, and creativity. Kim discusses the importance of embracing failure, seeking mentorships, and engaging with the pottery community, whether locally or online. She emphasizes the necessity of dedicating oneself wholly to art, the benefits of repetition and organization in her work, and finding one's unique voice in pottery. Kim also highlights practical aspects of pottery, such as pricing and the business side, and encourages artists to be patient and persistent in their creative pursuits. You can learn more about Kym by checking out her instagram @kopottery and checking out her work at these places The Companion Gallery- The Barn Gallery - Artful Home -Feats of Clay The Questions we ask will determine how our pottery will look like that's why I created a Free 15 questions to help you discover your voice template go grab it here www.shapingyourpottery.com/questions  

In this episode of 'Shaping Your Pottery,' host Nic Torres interviews Leigh Weinberg, a potter inspired by children's books, who shares her journey of finding her unique voice in pottery. Lee discusses the evolution of her pottery skills, the importance of being authentic, and her unconventional methods of selling pottery. She emphasizes the role of failure in learning and developing her own style, transitioning from a college art program to becoming a professional potter during the pandemic. Leigh also details her business approach, from setting up shop updates to pricing her work, and the positive impact of social media on her career. Furthermore, she shares insights into her creative process, from inspiration sources to silkscreen techniques, and offers advice for aspiring potters on discovering their own voice. The episode is not only an exploration of Leigh's artistic journey but also serves as motivation for artists to pursue their passions authentically and confidently. You can learn more about Leigh by checking out her instagram @lawful_nature 00:00 Introduction and Background 00:04 The Journey of a Potter: Lee Weinberg 00:23 The Importance of Authenticity in Pottery 00:38 Lee's Unconventional Ways of Selling Pottery 01:03 The Role of Failure in Pottery 02:26 Lee's First Pottery Class Experience 04:26 Impact of the Pandemic on Lee's Pottery Journey 07:12 The Evolution of Lee's Illustrative Animal Pottery 09:28 The Influence of Children's Books on Lee's Work 14:58 The Business Side of Pottery 24:13 Discovering Your Voice in Pottery 33:24 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Take this Free Quiz to see how close you are to finding your pottery voice click here to take the quiz shapingyourpottery.com/quiz   

The show takes an in-depth look at the philosophy, influences, and journey of Potter, Shikha Joshi. Shikha discusses her fascination with wood-fired pottery, her love for pottery derived from nature, and how she moved from being a hobbyist to running a pottery business. She shares her journey experimenting trying to recreate the wood fired look in an electric kiln and emphasizes the need to constantly experiment and love the process of pottery. The conversation explores the concept of Japanese aesthetic wabi-sabi, the idea of finding beauty in imperfection, which guides Shikha's pottery practice. Finally, we learn about the business side of pottery including selling work, understanding the market, and facing financial realities as a full-time pottery producer. You can learn more about Shikha by checking out her instagram @potterybyshikha   Top 3 Value Bombs: 1. Shikha's journey from struggling to finding her voice: The episode highlights Shikha's decade-long struggle in the pottery industry and her determination to create pieces that resonated with her. This story emphasizes the importance of perseverance and pushing boundaries to discover one's unique voice.   2. Transitioning from hobby to full-time business: Shikha shares her unexpected journey from pursuing pottery as a hobby to becoming a full-time potter. She explains how her passion for pottery and continuous dedication led her to transition into a successful career. This story can inspire aspiring potters to follow their passion and consider turning it into a sustainable business.   3. Embracing experimentation and isolation: Shikha attributes her growth as an artist to her isolated home studio and the freedom to experiment without external influence. This story highlights the value of artistic exploration and pushing boundaries without being limited by conventional techniques or norms.   Take this Free Quiz to see how close you are to finding your pottery voice click here to take the quiz shapingyourpottery.com/quiz      00:00 Introduction: The Journey of a Potter 00:57 Discovering the Love for Pottery 01:42 The Artistic Journey: From India to America 03:54 The Influence of Community and Mentors 05:24 Developing a Unique Pottery Style 08:43 The Transition to Wood-Fired Pottery 17:08 Turning Pottery into a Business 22:54 The Importance of Experimentation 26:24 Finding Your Unique Voice in Pottery 27:02 Conclusion: Keep Having Fun

In this episode, Nicole Dacey, a professional potter, shares her journey into the world of pottery, the transition from making pottery as a hobby to turning it into her full-time career, and the role her husband played in her journey. Nicole talks about the profound impact of building her own pottery studio and explains why she ventured into sculptural hand-built work. She discusses the importance of discovering one's unique voice in pottery and provides insightful tips on how potters can use Instagram to sell their pottery. The conversation further covers the influence of natural landscapes and antique objects on her pottery designs, and how teaching pottery helped improve her skill and understanding of the craft. You can learn more about Nicole by checking out her instagram @nicoledaceypottery Top 3 Value Bombs: 1. Discovering Your Voice: Nicole suggests that it's important to understand what you're good at and what you enjoy when creating pottery. This includes drawing inspiration from various sources, developing a personal style, and recognizing the types of pottery that you don't enjoy creating. Copying and learning from others in the learning phase helps find your unique style and voice, and gradually dropping the things you don't enjoy doing paves the way for focusing on what you truly love. 2. Building Your Own Pottery Studio: Nicole emphasizes the importance of organizing and planning for your own space and studio, including thinking about functionality, ergonomics as well as aesthetics to inspire you. She recommends having ample shelf space and smart storage ideas. 3. Leveraging Instagram: Nicole advises using Instagram as a free marketing tool to showcase and sell work, keeping in mind that potential followers might not necessarily be potential customers. She draws distinction between followers who appreciate the feed for humor, educational content, and feel a connection, versus followers who may potentially buy the work. Developing Instagram content that is visually pleasing and relevant to your goals is crucial. and so much more Take this Free Quiz to see how close you are to finding your pottery voice click here to take the quiz shapingyourpottery.com/quiz 

In the podcast episode we hear from Sarah Pike , a potter who has transformed her early fascination with clay into a successful career, balancing the demands of family life on a ranch with her passion for pottery. She recounts her transition from wheel throwing to slab-built pottery and the creative freedom it brought. Sarah emphasizes the importance of perseverance, mentorship, and community in shaping one's artistic identity and encourages creators to keep asking "what if" to fuel innovation. She also discusses the role of social media in building a supportive network and selling pottery. Listeners are invited to connect with Sarah's craft through her Instagram @sarahpikepottery  Top 3 Value Bombs: 1. The Transformative Power of Perseverance: Sarah's story is a testament to the transformative power of perseverance in the face of challenges. Whether it's balancing family responsibilities with a demanding career or rediscovering one's artistic identity, her journey underscores the importance of persistence. Sarah's experience highlights that with dedication to the craft and a commitment to studio time, obstacles can be overcome, leading to personal growth and success in the world of pottery. 2. Embracing Creative Freedom Through Technique: Sarah's transition from wheel throwing to slab building, illustrates the significance of embracing new techniques to unlock creative freedom. By stepping away from the traditional pottery wheel, Sarah found new ways to express her unique vision through the textures and shapes of her work. This serves as a valuable lesson for creators to remain open to exploring new methods and to entertain the "what ifs" that can lead to innovation and a more personalized artistic expression. 3. The Importance of Community and Authenticity: The episode delves into the importance of finding one's voice amidst a crowded field of creators, stressing the delicate balance between imitation and innovation. Sarah's story demonstrates the value of mentorship, community engagement, and the courage to carve out an authentic niche. It emphasizes that each small victory in the studio is a crucial step towards defining a unique creative identity, and that artists should leverage community support to combat self-doubt and grow in their craft. Take this Free Quiz to see how close you are to finding your pottery voice click here to take the quiz shapingyourpottery.com/quiz   

In this podcast episode, we delve into Jessie Shaw's remarkable transition from an accountant to a pottery virtuoso. Jessie discusses her initial discovery of pottery's therapeutic benefits during her battle with mental health issues and her subsequent experience as a high school ceramics teacher's assistant. The catalyst for her career change was a combination of overwhelming stress from her accounting job and health problems, leading her to embrace her passion for pottery, supported by her husband. Jessie's exploration into pottery goes beyond conventional mugs to unique items like olive oil bottles and yarn bowls, employing a distinctive single-firing technique that sets her apart. She shares the challenges and joys of experimenting with clay and glaze combinations, highlighting the importance of taking breaks to rejuvenate creativity and refine one's artistic voice. Listeners interested in her work can find @modernfirepottery on Instagram. Top 3 Value Bombs: 1. **Embrace Change and Pursue Passion**: One of the key takeaways from Jesse Shaw's journey is the importance of following one's passion, even when it means making a significant career change. Jesse's story illustrates the value of listening to one's inner voice and taking the leap from a stable, but unfulfilling career in accounting, to a life dedicated to the art of pottery. This transition was not only crucial for her personal fulfillment but also for her mental health, as pottery provided a therapeutic outlet for her. 2. **Support Networks are Crucial**: Jesse's experience underscores the importance of having a supportive network when making life-altering decisions. Her husband played an instrumental role in her transition to pottery, providing not just moral support but also practical help, such as investing in equipment and assisting with her creative process. This reinforces the idea that having people who believe in you and your passion can be a tremendous asset when navigating through changes and pursuing a creative career. 3. **Innovation and Experimentation Lead to Growth**: Jesse Shaw's adoption of a single-firing technique, as opposed to the traditional bisque firing, highlights the importance of innovation in one's craft. By experimenting with new methods and forms, such as olive oil bottles and yarn bowls instead of the ubiquitous mugs, Jesse found her unique artistic voice. Her willingness to try new things and push the boundaries of her medium serves as an inspiration to other artists to explore and experiment within their own fields, emphasizing that personal growth often lies in stepping out of one's comfort zone. and more   Take this Free Quiz to see how close you are to finding your pottery voice click here to take the quiz shapingyourpottery.com/quiz   

Join us in this captivating episode as we delve into the world of pottery with the talented Josephine Coppinger. Discover the enchanting process of transforming clay into stunning, functional art pieces that tell a story. Josephine opens up about her artistic journey, the strategic business decisions that led to her full-time pottery career, and the importance of finding joy and creative flow in her work. Learn how Josephine navigates the challenges of perfectionism and embraces her unique voice in the pottery landscape. She offers invaluable advice for fellow potters on selling their work, connecting with customers, and building confidence in their craft. Whether you're a seasoned artist or an aspiring potter, this episode is a heartfelt reminder that true success is defining it on your own terms. Don't miss out on Josephine's inspiring tale and practical insights. Tune in to explore the alchemy of pottery and how to shape your passion into a thriving business. Watch now and be sure to follow Josephine's journey for more artistic inspiration! 🔔 Subscribe for more pottery insights  Share your thoughts in the comments below, and let's continue to shape a creative world together! Top 3 Value Bombs: Based on the podcast episode overview provided, here are the top three value bombs: 1. Success on Your Own Terms: Josephine Coppinger emphasizes the importance of defining success in pottery according to personal satisfaction and creative flow, rather than external benchmarks. This perspective encourages artists to focus on what makes them happy and fulfilled in their craft, rather than solely aiming for commercial success or the approval of others. 2. Balancing Art and Business: Transitioning to a full-time potter involves strategic business decisions, including business registration, pricing, marketing, and managing finances. Josephine's approach offers a blueprint for artists who wish to turn their passion into a viable business without compromising their creative vision. 3. Finding a Unique Creative Voice: Discovering one's unique voice in pottery is a journey that involves practice, self-reflection, and embracing imperfections. Josephine's candid sharing of her own path of self-discovery serves as an inspiration for other potters to persistently seek their individual expression within their work, reminding them that each piece tells a story and contributes to their artistic direction. Get your 53 themes by clicking this link shapingyourpottery.com/53themes