Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Drake Bialecki | Episode 1159
Drake Bialecki is a Bend, Oregon-based studio potter and organic farm specialist. With a BA in Organic Farming and pottery apprenticeship with Dark Horse Pottery and The Leach Pottery, Drake’s diverse background spans international pottery residencies, winemaking, and renowned art shows. Drake’s founded Pacific Stone Pottery in 2017 and advocates for handmade ceramics and farm-fresh food.
SPONSORS
You can help support the show!
GRPotteryForms.com
Number 1 brand in America for a reason. Skutt.com
For all your ceramic needs go to Georgies.com
How important for you is time management and being realistic about what you can do about your clay time?
Yeah, time management is the name of the game. I feel like if I set realistic goals for myself in the studio it allows me to keep the rest of my life on track with my fiancé and having a dog and trying to hang out with friends. So, it’s setting realistic goals. Trying to be more specific an focused.
Does that mean you block specific time out? Like Thursday evening is clay time? Is is something as simple as that?
One hundred percent. Not to be so locked in that there isn’t wiggle room for other aspects of life, it just allows me to have that focused time and I can just clock into the studio and I am there for X amount of hours and if I do need to adjust to make it to dinner on time or to make it beer on time with a friend. Being more consistent and scheduled helps me out.
Are there times of the day that you are more creative or do you just have to show up creative?
That’s an interesting question. I’ve never thought about that. I would say it’s really easy for me to lock in once I am in studio. I guess I prefer afternoons and evenings or even late nights. I will definitely spend time well past midnight on certain days.
Do you ever have to set boundaries with your day job to keep life in balance? Like I won’t work overtime?
Fortunately, it’s built into the job. My supervisor is such a legend and saint in so many regards, I don’t have to work overtime at any point with my job.
On a practical level, do you leave your work ready to go and all set up ready for you?
Yeah, I am pretty neurotic to be honest and so I always try and go the extra mile and make sure all my tools for a certain project are ready the night before so I can just show up and put on my overalls and get down to brass tacks.
Do you utilize being efficient to keep things moving quickly?
Yes, being trained as a production potter and having that be the cornerstone of my apprenticeship, I feel like it was all about hacks. Not compromising quality because that is the utmost importance to maintain our accounts and keeping our customers happy and keeping ourselves happy with the work we were making yet I am so grateful in being trained in that because the way that I position my elbow, where I keep my wedged balls of clay while I am throwing, and how I can stack my bats, I try and keep my studio as organized and tidy as possible.
Book
The Darkest White by Eric Blehm
Contact
Instagram: @pacificstonepottery