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Shannon Hogarty | Episode 1045
Shannon Hogarty, a New York native, is a ceramic artist living and working in Austin, Texas. Shannon’s work combines traditional techniques with contemporary designs, featuring unique surface decoration and vibrant glaze combinations. Shannon is especially passionate about atmospheric firing techniques, with a particular focus on wood firings. Shannon contributes to the to the Austin arts community through her roles as an educator, studio assistant, and artist in residence.
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Would you consider yourself a studio pottery?
Sure, yeah. Why not. Yes. (laughter)
Do you see a difference between a studio pottery and a production potter?
Yeah, I just hear people talk bad about production potters. I mean a lot of people have a lot of things to say about production potters and studio potters. I don’t really know. I am a potter for sure and I am on the journey of being a full time artist. Pottery is the only thing going on now. So if that makes me a studio potter, sure.
I know throwing can be hard on your back. How do you keep yourself healthy to keep the sport going?
Yeah, I have a lot of sad injuries from a bad car wreck I was in, to my back and my wrist. So I do stretch every day and I also really love Pilates. Potters out there, try Pilates. It’s like slowly strength building and low impact. Just a lot of stretches though, for sure.
Do you have any studio hacks that help you?
Yes! So right in line with having back injuries, I use a mirror. I feel like most of us should when we are throwing on the wheel. Don’t be ashamed about it. Look at yourself and what you are doing in the mirror. I put a mirror in front of my wheel. It helps so much with leaning over to the side and trying to see the side angle of your work. So that’s the first one that came to mind.
What is a favorite business tip that you would pass on to someone who is asking, How do I make a living at this?
I would say, Y’all should look at your website presence. I am a website designer, that was my career before pottery and I sort of made it my mission to get everyone off of Etsy and put the power back into your hands of having your own website where you are uploading your own products to and maintaining that yourself. And you can take that and get off Instagram entirely by having your own mailing list and just putting the power back in your own hands and actually maintaining your own web presence I’d say would be my business advice.
Do you feel that as an artist that being organized is important?
I think so. I think it’s like a balancing act but there does need to be a little bit of structure to the chaos that is being a creative person. And just finding that balance and that balance can look like a lot of different things. Like maintaining a little bit of a calendar or making time for yourself or having someone in your life that balances your energy out. I can be a little too type A sometimes. I have in a past life. I was in business school and was kind of academic growing up and very organized so I like to have someone who is getting me to be a little more chaotic. And some people are chaotic and need that organization and that balance. It is only meant to empower you.
Books
The Creative Act by Rick Rubin
Contact
Instagram: @shannon_ceramics