Author Archive: Paul Blais

Instagram CoOp | Rachel Love | Episode 508

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Rachel Love | Episode 508

Rachel Love graduated from Western Washington University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mixed Media.  Though Rachel’s core focus while enrolled was printmaking, fibers, and photography, she prepared herself for a multitude of creative avenues by taking many other courses in almost every other branch of artistic expression the institution offered.  As time has gone on and experiences and families have grown, Rachel currently devotes a majority of her time to her family and young daughters but has still been able to enrich and expand her business which can be found online under the name of High Yield Studio.  Rachel is preparing for an exciting 2019, where she will continue to utilize her mixed media skills and expand on her true love and biggest interest which is creating ceramic pieces.

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Doing The Known, But Being Unique | Lydia Johnson | Episode 507

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Lydia Johnson | Episode 507

Lydia Johnson is a ceramic artist and designer who works full time in her studio in Manchester, Connecticut. Lydia’s work has been exhibited across the country at galleries such as The Clay Studio, Northern Clay Center, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Lillstreet Gallery, and Artstream Nomadic Gallery. Lydia was the recipient of the 2017 Individual Artist Fellowship from the Tennessee Arts Commission. This spring, Lydia will be a demonstrating artist at the Florida Heat symposium and showing work in Tokyo, Japan, and at the Architectural Design Digest show in New York City.

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“Sold Out in a Few Hours” | Julia Smith | Episode 506

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Julia Smith | Episode 506

Julia Smith is a potter based in the Highlands of Scotland. Julia has a home studio and produces illustrated ceramics and one off pots for exhibitions. Julia uses earthenware, decals, and studio made layered glazes. Julia has an online sale once a month and sell at events throughout the UK.

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From Nothing to Something | Laurie Caffery | Episode 505

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Laurie Caffery | Episode 505

Laurie Caffery Harris grew up in Boone, North Carolina, a small town surrounded by the peaks and valleys of the Blue Ridge Mountains. From a young age she was compelled to work with her hands, watching her mother, a professional painter. On weekends Laurie spent time in the woods with her father, where she learned to identify mountain ranges and types of trees. Encouraged by her creative parents, Laurie grew up passionately exploring different medias, primarily painting and drawing. It wasn’t until beginning college that Laurie settled on a medium: clay. Four years later, Laurie received her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Studio Art with an emphasis in ceramics at Appalachian State University in May 2014. Laurie is currently an Artist in Residence at Odyssey Clayworks in Asheville, North Carolina where she continues to create and evolve her work. 

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Daughter & Mother Take to Clay | Tuile & Carrie Whalen | Episode 504

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Tuile & Carrie Whalen | Episode 504

Carrie Whalen, mother of four, from Kingston, Ontario, has been studying, creating, and teaching art for over 30 years. Carrie is an award winning design graduate with diplomas in fine arts and fashion design; she represented Canada twice on the international stage in fashion. Carrie has been running Y.A.K (Young Artists of Kingston) art camps for children for 24 years. Over the past three years, while unschooling her two daughters. Carrie has been doing an independent study in ceramics making whimsical, colorful, sometime highly detail, small functional forms.

Carrie’s Work

Tuile is a 9 year old unschooled girl artist.  Tuile has been drawing, painting and making clay sculptures since she’s been able to hold a pencil, paintbrush, and ball of clay.  Tuile is passionate about everything she does.  Tuile loves imaginative play, animals, is passionate about global warming, chemistry, science, animal rights and is a young feminist.  Tuile is currently spending her time learning how to make mugs in her own creative way.

Tuile’s Work

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Social Media and Its Impact | Emily May | Episode 503

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Emily May | Episode 503

Emily May is most at home while she is in the studio. Emily is an emerging, multidisciplinary artist from Vancouver, British Columbia who communicates her ideas mainly through ceramics but will also include sculpture, painting, film, performance, and collaborative work. Emily’s love for clay came accidentally when she enrolled in art school with the hopes of becoming a painter. In April 2016, Emily received her Fine Arts Diploma from Langara College and she is currently residing in Halifax, Nova Scotia where she transferred to NSCAD University. Emily is hoping to complete her BFA with a major in Ceramics this year (2019).

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YouTube for Potters | Jon Schmidt | Episode 502

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Jon Schmidt | Episode 502

Jon Schmidt is a potter, entrepreneur, adventurer, videographer, photographer, father, and husband. Jon began his pottery adventures in 2010 when he took his first wheel throwing class at Gustavus Adolphus in St. Peter, MN.  Jon graduated with a Business management degree. Jon combined his passion for handmade pottery and entrepreneurship skills to purchase the coffee shop, Mocha Monkey in 2011, at 21 years old.   Since then, Mocha Monkey has grown from 1 store and 18 employees to 3 locations, and over 50 employees.  Mocha Monkey uses and sells all handmade Jon Schmidt pottery.  Jon has spent most of his time honing the pottery business, being a husband and father to his 18 month old son, Ryder and seeking out the next adventure.

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A Wholesale Maker in London | Hannah Bould | Episode 501

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Hannah Bould | Episode 501

Hannah Bould is a potter who lives and works in North London. Hannah initially studied Illustration at Camberwell college of Art and went on to work in Fine Art printmaking, before getting involved with clay in 2012. Hannah now works full time from her garden studio making functional, wheel thrown, stoneware ceramics. Hannah’s work is primarily monochromatic and she mostly works with wax resist, focusing on geometric bold shapes and expressive painterly marks.

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Listener’s Choice Part B | Picks From The First 500 Episodes | Episode 500B

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Picks From The First 500 Episodes | Episode 500B

I went to the mic and asked for the listeners to send me their top picks from the first 500 episodes and what part of the episodes really made and impact. For some of the people who wrote in I was able to call them and have a short conversation, and for others I read their email. Either way, this episode is dear to my heart. I hope you enjoy it.Continue reading→

Listener’s Choice Part A | Picks From The First 500 Episodes | Episode 500A

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Picks From The First 500 Episodes | Episode 500A

I went to the mic and asked for the listeners to send me their top picks from the first 500 episodes and what part of the episodes really made and impact. For some of the people who wrote in I was able to call them and have a short conversation, and for others I read their email. Either way, this episode is dear to my heart. I hope you enjoy it.

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