Author Archive: Paul Blais

Staying Motivated | Lea Sagman | Episode 918

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Lea Sagman | Episode 918

Lea Sagman is a translator and a potter. While on a vacation to Greece Lea, her husband, and friends, each said what he would like to do after retirement – Lea’s dream was to become a potter. Two years passed before she took the first pottery class and was immediately hooked. What started as a hobby gradually became an important part of Lea’s life. Pottery is at times comforting, at times frustrating, at times therapy – always fulfilling.

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We’ve Been Here The Whole Time | Adero Willard | Episode 917

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Adero Willard | Episode 917

Adero Wllard is originally from New York City and currently lives in Chicopee, MA. Adero received a BFA at Alfred University an MFA at Nova Scotia College of Art and Design and was a Salad Days artist in resident at Watershed Center for Ceramic Arts in Maine. Adero has over twenty-five years as a ceramics artist and has been featured in a number of discussion panels, publications, books on ceramics, and has exhibited work nationally and internationally. Adero is committed to equity and inclusion work, and while a visiting assistant professor in ceramics has been a faculty co-facilitator for IDEA lab an anti-racism and anti-bias program at Alfred university. Adero is a co-founder of the non-profit outreach organization POW! Pots on Wheels since 2014 and is committed to diversity and anti-hierarchical approaches to teaching in the field of ceramics. For Adero it is all about a love for clay, nature, community, history and learning and sharing knowledge of the handmade with others.

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Blending Functional With Sculptural | Wes Brown | Episode 915

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Wes Brown | Episode 915

Wesley Brown is a ceramicist working in East Stroudsburg, PA. Wes holds a BFA from Bowling Green State University and an MFA from Indiana University-Bloomington. Through a combination of hand building and wheel throwing Wes creates vessels in clay that are a meeting place for both the sculptural and functional.

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It’s More Than A Hobby | Madison Potratz | Episode 914

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Madison Potratz | Episode 914

Madisen Potratz is a potter based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, who earned a BFA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Madison is the founder of Good Art for Good, a pottery business with a mission to support nonprofits and charities in her local community.

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Chasing A Feeling | Dylan Bowen | Episode 913

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Dylan Bowen | Episode 913

Dylan Bowen makes slip decorated earthenware using both traditional and contemporary materials and techniques. . Dylan works on a small but ever-changing range of shapes, large platters, bowls and carved forms. The clay is thrown, cut, carved or handbuilt, the slips are poured trailed or brushed on. Dylan’s work has its roots in traditional slipware but with many contemporary influences. Bowen aims to capture some of the dynamism and spontaneity of the making process in the finished work.

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Opportunity Comes To Those Who Work | Bianca Pintan | Episode 912

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Bianca Pintan | Episode 912

Bianca Pintan is an artist born and raised in Brazil, now based in the coastal town of Byron Bay, Australia. Following a captivating inner-call and intuition Bianca began her journey into creating ceramic art. Having always worked hands on, the art of ceramics came naturally to Bianca, as though her hands had memorized these movements before. As a self-taught artist Bianca uses this to her advantage, being open to receive inspiration rather than searching for it, exploring the realm of ceramics with a playful curiosity. Bianca’s pieces are all hand-built, a unique technique used for the classic shapes she is creating. Bianca allows the clay to guide her into whatever shape is wanting to be birthed, creating an exceptional relationship with her medium. Playing with the textural elements of shape and light, Bianca’s pieces tell a unique story each time you view them.

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Working Backwards | Christy Culp | Episode 911

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Christy Culp | Episode 911

Christy Culp lives in western Pennsylvania and began her work with clay at Indiana University of Pennsylvania where she earned her art teacher certification in 1991. Since 1997, Christy has been teaching ceramics and art classes at Deer Lakes High School. Through her teaching Christy hopes to pass her passion for clay and creating to her students. When not teaching, Christy can be found in her renovated barn studio on the small berry farm she and her husband share. Her work is directly influenced by life on a farm and her love of cooking. Christy’s goal is “to bring beauty and joy to the everyday ritual of eating and drinking.”

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Loving Your Customers | Milla Istomina | Episode 910

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Milla Istomina | Episode 910

Milla Istomina was born and raised in Kazakhstan. Milla moved to the USA in 2013 and has been residing in Los Angeles, California. Milla took her first pottery class in 2018 at the Barnsdall Art Center. What started as a weekend hobby quickly turned into a monthly membership at a communal studio. Mist Ceramics was born, and experimenting with clays, techniques, glazes and styles has begun. Just like many people across the globe, Milla lost her full time job on the marketing team of an arts organization when the COVID pandemic struck. It was time to make a path for oneself and take risks, so Mist Ceramics slowly became Milla’s main project. Mist Ceramics practice explores various techniques and genres while executing the neverending battle of trained wheel thrower versus self-taught hand builder.

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Host of Shaping Your Pottery Podcast | Nic Torres | Episode 909

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Nic Torres | Episode 909

Nic Torres runs a podcast called Shaping Your Pottery to help potters to discover their unique voice. Nic has been making pottery for 5 years and he knows how hard it is to develop your unique voice in pottery. That is why it is Nic’s mission to help potters find theirs.

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