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Michael Cole | Episode 1118
Michael Cole, largely self-taught, has refined advanced techniques through workshops with esteemed artists like Noel Bailey, Steven Hill, Jon Townley, Deb Lecce, Sarah Wells Rolland, Simon Leach, and Jenifer McCurdy. Michael was a member of the 2024 Steven Hill Journey Workshop at Alison Palmer Studio. Michael makes his living as personal assistant to Broadway composer Stephen Schwartz.
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How important is it for us to just be honest with where we are with our work?
I think it’s very important. Extremely important. And I do feel like there is validity in the beginning of our pottery journey to try all the things. There are so many different avenues that you can go down. We learn a lot by doing all that, but for me working in this new way it makes the making far more meaningful and enjoyable.
Then how important is the influence of a mentor assessing your work?
For me personally I found it very moving and a sort of personal answer is that I didn’t really have that kind of support when I was younger. With my father specifically. And in Stephen Hill I found a father figure who was encouraging me in ways that I had never really experienced before as an artist, in the artistic side of my life. For me it was exceedingly important.
Was it a scary thing to admit and to reach out and get help to grow?
It wasn’t scary for me because I have never been scared of that kind of thing. I love trying to make myself better. I’ve spent all of my life making. When I was a struggling actor in New York City I made my living doing finish carpentry. So I learned tiling and sheet rock and all that. So I have used my hands my entire life. So I am not afraid of doing anything. Except if I am working with really expensive materials and as we know clay is not expensive.
How important is mindset and persistence to level up?
I think it’s important and I think I struggle with it a little bit because I have a full-time job. And I find myself away from my studio for chunks of time. I find I do my best work when I am really connected with it for long periods of time. Therefore, I can concentrate on it more.
What is your reaction to this? Be responsible for your own journey.
I knew you were going to throw me one of these questions. (laughter) I think it’s good. Throughout my days, trying to follow the passions that I had in some ways I felt like I was…earlier in my life I felt like I was following a journey that my brother was on. He was a farmer and at some point, I decided to join the choir. And that break made huge difference for me. So I started to take some control over my own journey then and I guess, to a certain extent, I did that for a large portion of my life. In terms of my journey now I think it is very important to take control of that and decide where I want to go with this.
What is your favorite piece to make in the studio and why?
My favorite piece is probably a mug, which is kind of remarkable to say because I used to hate making handles. Hated it. But I knew it was something I should do. So that ends up being a really nice form for me to work on and also turns out to be a really good test tile.
Book
Every Tool Is A Hammer by Adam Savage
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Instagram: @mastercraft_ceramics