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Amber Faktor | Episode 1207
Amber Faktor is the sensitive-souled ceramicist behind Sunfish Studio. Over a decade ago Amber traded city life for clay, coastlines, and the grounding rhythms of island life. When Amber is not making pots, teaching workshops, or mentoring fellow tender-hearted makers, she’s likely puttering on her little homestead beside the sea.
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Why is a mentor something that would be a good thing to have?
I think having a mentor is such an important part of being an artist or a maker or a craftsperson in a way that you are acknowledging that you don’t need to re-invent the wheel. There are people who have done this before and there are people who you can learn from. And not that you need to take everything that they say to heart and do everything they say, but it just helps you, I don’t know, make it a little easier on yourself, and have someone that you can pick their brain and learn from.
What kind of advice are you giving for selling in person? What is the number one thing that is critical to know?
I think for the makers that I am mentoring, I like to group them into mindful mentees, I think taking care of yourself in whatever way that needs to look like. Because chances are doing an in person market is going to be challenging and is going to be draining. If you can take really good care of yourself before and after it’s going to make everything so much easier.
What is a main thing a person needs to think about when they are selling online?
Learn how to take really good photos.
What is a crucial thing to know about the wholesale world?
I don’t actually teach this. I teach workshops and markets. Not wholesale, but I do wholesale myself. But I can still answer and say that from doing wholesale now, finding wholesalers you just really vibe and have a good relationship with. Trust your gut.
Where does Sunfish Studio come from? I love the name.
A lot of people don’t know what it is. It’s a really odd looking fish that looks like it shouldn’t be able to swim. I didn’t know about sunfish, I grew up in the interior. When I moved to Haida Gwaii that was the creature that I was most fascinated with. I wanted a name that was playful and reflected my physical location and it just became the creature that I loved and adored.
Book
The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker
Contact
Instagram: @sunfishstudio
Fantastic podcast and story shared by a local maker I deeply admire.