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Susie Kathol | Episode 1155
Susie Kathol is a ceramic artist working with the sgraffito decoration technique, making and etching black-and-white pieces with images from nature. Susie’s inspiration comes from her deep connection to animals, plants, fungi, and her work as a biologist.
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How did you identify which galleries?
It’s been a mix of going to galleries and really liking what I’m seeing, and also recommendations from other friends who are artists, who are already in those galleries.
Have you done submissions or inquiries face to face?
I’ve done online submissions just because they’re in towns that are a little way away from me, so I haven’t been able to go in in person, but it might be easier option.
Let me ask you about your actual submission. When you reach out to galleries are you writing a specific submission for each gallery are you writing a generic one that you would just cut and paste and send from one to the next?
Actually I’ve been making individual pieces specifically designed for the galleries that I’ve thought very much about. I’ve made already some pieces that I hope that they will be interested in, mostly based on their native wildlife and plants. And every application has been very much catered to that individual gallery.
Then how about your images? How much professionalism or quality are you putting into your images for their consideration?
Well I’m doing my best with photography. I’m not necessarily the greatest photographer, but I hope that they are good enough quality. I try and do pretty descriptive photographs mostly outside and with good lighting.
You mentioned that you’ve been asking friends and looking for recommendations, and I’m curious about that networking: How important is that for figuring out who to reach out to in terms of which galleries, but also who to reach out to within the gallery?
I haven’t really gotten any recommendations of who to reach out to individually in each gallery, but just the galleries in general.
How have you prepared your heart for rejection?
I work on that all the time because it has been a struggle for me. ut I really appreciate when people are honest and straightforward and I didn’t know any injection so much nowadays. I did get an injection from one of the galleries that applied to already and that’s just totally fine. I don’t have much of an ego when it comes to my pottery, so I completely am just very grateful when people do like it and then you do want to have a working relationship with me. But if not, that is OK.
Book
Visual Thinking by Temple Grandin
Contact
Instagram: @susiekatholceramics