Michelle Katz | Desert Dragon Pottery | Episode 13

Michelle Katz

Michelle Katz Vase

Michelle “Mishy” Katz began working in clay in 1979 and currently co-owns Desert Dragon Pottery, the largest pottery school in Phoenix Arizona. She teaches many beginning students of all ages skills on the pottery wheel and hand-building, along with many various techniques in glazing.  Her studio also offers space for accomplished clay artists to create original work.  It has become quite an interesting eclectic community of studio members.Continue reading

Joel Cherrico | Cherrico Pottery | Episode 12

Joel Cherrico

Joel Cherrico MugJoel Cherrico is a 26 year old potter living in St. Joseph, Minnesota. He graduated from the College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University in 2010, and immediately launched a small business after graduation. For the past 4 years, he has lived in the town of his alma matter, making a living as a full-time potter.Continue reading

Paul Blais | Grow | Episode 11

 

Photo Credit: bloomgal via Compfight cc

Photo Credit: bloomgal via Compfight cc

Today’s show is all about growing your pottery business.

Key Idea

Get in front of the money.

Traditional Approach

The traditional approach to a pottery business has been weekend sales at your local farmer’s markets or craft fairs. You may have even had the option of doing your own studio sales. If you were diligent you could get your stuff on the shelves of local retail stores. Then, if your work was good enough, there was the option of getting into galleries. All of these, and few more, are still options today, but they are also very limited in their reach. You can only reach the people Continue reading

Chris Vaughn | Christopher Vaughn Pottery | Episode 10

Christopher Vaughn

Christopher Vaughn Tea PotChris Vaughn is a Massachusetts native, living, working, and making in northern Vermont. Chris is the Studio Manager and an instructor of pottery and screen printing classes at the Burlington City Arts Clay and Print Studio, a community art space in Burlington, Vermont. His relationship with clay began in 2007, with an introductory wheel-throwing class during Christopher’s junior year at St. Michael’s College. He caught the clay bug and hasn’t looked back since.Continue reading

Audra Doughty | Mud Queen Pottery | Episode 9

Audra Doughty
Born and raised in Del Rio, Texas, I’m a military wife with three children, three dogs & a cat.  I’ve been working with clay for a little over 3 years, mostly wheel work in stoneware and sometimes porcelain.  I make functional work because it’sAudra Doughty Mug personal, people touch it and use it everyday and I like that.Continue reading

Tom Jaszczak | Episode 8

 

Tom Jaszczak

SONY DSCTom received a Bachelor of Arts in VisualSONY DSC Art and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Bemidji State University.  After graduating, Tom apprenticed at Mill Creek Pottery for a year and learned the process of wood firing.  Most recently he started a Long Term residency at the Archie Bray Foundation in Helena, MT and has been focusing on developing a red earthenware soda fired body of work.Continue reading

Travis Owens | Jugtown Pottery | Episode 7

Travis Owens

Travis Owens grew up making pots with his family at Jugtown Pottery, in Moore County, NC.  He began making pots at an early age; learning from his parents, much the way his family has passed down the craft for over 150 years. As is important with all Jugtown pots, Travis’s pieces use local clays and glazes, all of which are formulated at Jugtown. Travis’s pieces have their own unique style, which draw from historic forms of his family.

Travis Owens Vase 3Travis graduated from NC State University, College of Design in 2007 with a Bachelor’s in Art + Design. He has given talks about Jugtown and his family’s legacy to many groups around the country, and enjoys helping people learn about the wonderful legacy that Jugtown continues.Continue reading

Lisa Naples | Sculpture and Pottery | Episode 6

Lisa Naples

Lisa Naples makes pottery and narrative figures from her barn/studio in Doylestown, PA. She received her MFA from The Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in 1988. In 2012 she was awarded the Jane and Leonard Korman Prize for Excellence in Contemporary Clay at the 36th Annual Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show. In 2010 she was awarded the prestigious “Best of Philly” award in the category of “Gallery Artist”. Also in 2010 her work was featured in the publication “Masters Earthenware: Major Works from Leading Artists” which is a survey of 37 ceramic artists from North America and Europe.Continue reading

Lori Buff | Future Relics | Episode 5

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Lori Buff is a potter from Atlanta, GA.  She creates unique functional and sculptural pottery.  Most of her art is created on the potter’s wheel but some pieces are later altered.  With sculptural pottery she uses different firing techniques such as horse hair raku, iron fumed, and naked raku.Continue reading

Ceramic Showcase Portland Oregon | Episode 4

Ceramic Showcase 2014

This past weekend I was able to attend the Ceramic Showcase at the Oregon Convention Center in the city of Portland. With mic in hand I walked through the exhibit hall and asked various people to talk with me. The artists were so accommodating and friendly. I even asked a few buyers to take a moment and talk about their experience. Below are the pictures of the artists I interviewed along with their work. I also provide links for you to see more of their work.Continue reading