She Thinks I’m A Walrus | Nastia Calaca | Episode 1133

Nastia Calaca | Episode 1133

Nastia Calaca has always been dreaming of becoming an illustrator, creating intricate illustrations, reinventing beloved book characters, and writing new versions of her favorite stories was all part of her childhood. One day, Nastia unexpectedly stumbled upon ceramics and she unconditionally fell in love and have never parted since, having now been united for more than 12 years.

Continue reading

The Digs Chicago: A Community Studio Story | Fawn Penn | Episode 1132

Fawn Penn | Episode 1132

Fawn Penn is a ceramic artist working in Chicago. In 2020, Fawn co-founded The Digs Chicago, a non-profit community ceramics studio home to 100 artists. In 2024, Fawn founded Old Friends, a contemporary art gallery. Fawn graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago with a BFA (2020).

 

Continue reading

A Vision Followed The SMART Way | Chelsea Erdner | Episode 1131

Chelsea Erdner | Episode 1131

Chelsea Erdner is the artist behind Bombabird Ceramics. Chelsea has been working with clay for over two decades, but left her job as a graphic designer in 2017 to pursue Bombabird full-time. What started as a business focused primarily on functional production work has evolved to explore symmetry, clean lines, texture, balance, and repetition. Chelsea enjoys pushing the boundaries of the materials she works with — often piecing multiple wheel-thrown objects together to achieve balance and harmony in a finished shape or adding complex flourishes to a simple form. Since the beginning of Bombabird, Chelsea has prided herself on work that is not only beautiful, but meant to last. She has produced and sold thousands of pieces to folks all over the country, including selling through retailers like Food52 and Schoolhouse Electric. Chelsea’s business has seen a lot in its eight years—studio moves, a pandemic, the birth of her first child—but she still wakes up every day feeling incredibly fortunate and inspired to do this work.

Continue reading

Sprint At The Unknown | Jesse Hamerman | Episode 1130

Jesse Hamerman  | Episode 1130

Jesse Hamerman started Beginner Ceramics in 2021 after not touching clay for 21-years, which he had studied in college. For Jessie it felt like a fresh discovery of the medium and his true self. Creating exuberant work at the intersection of design and craft for everyday use, each piece is crafted by hand in Brooklyn.

Continue reading

What Does A Pottery Mentor Bring To The Table? | Amy Lee | Episode 1129

Amy Lee | Episode 1129

Amy Lee fell in love with rocks and clay at age two. While studying GeoEnvironmental Science, pottery became Amy’s passion. Alongside a multi-decade IT career, Amy has built and supported creative communities. Today, Amy continues to create and inspire from her Virginia studio, blending science, art, and community.

Continue reading

She Had To Bend Over To Get Into Her First Studio | Harlinah Teoh | Episode 1128

Harlinah Teoh | Episode 1128

Harlinah Teoh creates botanical ceramic art based on the plants she encounters while hiking in the Australian landscape. Born in Sydney, Harlinah lived in Darwin, Tokyo, and Singapore before making her home in Melbourne. Harlinah took up ceramics in 2019 and three years later shifted her work and lifestyle to focus on ceramics and hiking.

Continue reading

America’s Largest Ceramic Show | Ceramic Showcase | Episode 1127

Ceramic Showcase | Episode 1127

Welcome to America’s largest clay focused art show. It happens every year in Portland Oregon. And thousands of people show up to check it out and buy pots. I got to be there as an “Artist’s Assistant” to Jennifer Blais and Jessica Joner in booth 60. And it was awesome! I also got to walk around and talk to other participants of the show. Amazing people like emerging artists, first year participants, international artists, the chair of the organization, and more. This was my trip to Ceramic Showcase… Oh, and did I say that the event is put on by the Oregon Potters Association?

Instagram: @ceramicshowcase

Continue reading

Pottery For Your Lifestyle | Jenny Cartee | Episode 1126

Jenny Cartee | Episode 1126

Jenny Cartee is a potter living in the mountains of western North Carolina. Jenny makes mugs and other functional pots that she sells at our local farmers market and coffee shops. Jenny’s husband, Heath is a fly fishing guide and owns a guide service, Pisgah Outdoors. Jenny and Heath have two daughters, Annie and Molly. As a family they love the freedom that having their own businesses gives them to spend time with each other and their girls. Aside from pottery Jenny’s life passions are cooking, baking bread, hiking ,and identifying wildflowers.

Continue reading

To Do A Demo | Ana Shioshita | Episode 1125

Ana Shioshita | Episode 1125

Ana Shioshita is a potter working in Vancouver Canada. Ana was lucky enough to grow up in Boulder Colorado around a lot of clay from a young age. Ana has spent the last decade designing for film, and has only recently started focusing on pottery full time. Ana is interested in creating work that conveys a sense of movement with the static medium of clay.

Continue reading

Audacious | Marlaina Mathisen | Episode 1124

Marlaina Mathisen | Episode 1124

Marlaina Mathisen is a proficient wheel throwing artist who loves to share her understanding of the wheel to others. Marlaina’s personal work focuses primarily on wheel thrown and altered forms ranging from functional works of art to organic sculptural centerpieces. Currently Marlaina teaches a variety of classes at The Digs in Chicago, Fine Line Creative Arts Center in and supplying and managing a pottery gallery in Door County Wisconsin called Ephraim Clayworks. Marlaina’s 5 year plan is to continue diligently working towards establishing her own pottery studio. 

Continue reading