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GiAnna Orangio | Episode 1114
GiAnna Orangio is a hobby potter based in the San Francisco Bay Area in California. Her brand, Evil Eye Pottery is a collection of vases that she creates on the pottery wheel in her home studio. GiAnna shares her ceramic journey and creations on social media (links below).
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How has the community studio helped you grow as an artist or as a potter?
I think one the best things you can do is observe others. The other day I watched my instructor assemble his teapot and it took like an hour, every little piece, but now I know how to do that and I didn’t know before. I think just observing other potters is wonderful.
You mentioned one of the things that drew you to ceramics was the demonstrations on Instagram. Is that still a source for inspiration for you?
Absolutely. I love following other potters. It’s so cool to see what people create. Whether it’s really beautiful, precise pieces that they produce in large quantities or one really stellar piece that would serve as work of art. I do it every day.
How much time are you able to devote to being in the studio a week?
On weekends I will spend both Saturday and Sunday for hours and hours in my home studio. In class right now I do maybe four hours a week on Wednesdays three or fours hours. It just depends on the week.
How has working with clay impacted your relationships?
I mean it’s a fun conversation starter that’s for sure. I think for a long time I didn’t really have a hobby that really defined me. I think my work defined me. In so many ways people associated me with my job. So now when I am meeting new people I don’t just talk about my job when I am introduced to someone I talk about my favorite hobby. That’s what I am truly passionate about.
What has you excited in the studio right now? What can you not wait to make?
You know, I have avoided making a big moon jar for a really long time. I think I am very scared of them for some reason. Probably because I have attempted a few in the past and they have flopped. But I am going to a big demo by Moon Do Bang and I am excited to go to the demo and watch him do some of the biggest moon jars I will probably ever see and it is going to be very cool to learn from someone who is kind of known for that.
Book
Fly Girl by Ann Hood
Contact
Instagram: @evil_eye_pottery_