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Carine Belloc | Episode 1220
Former textile engineer and yoga teacher, Carine Belloc discovered her calling in ceramics inspired by feminine cycles, seasons, and nature. Creating handmade ritual objects, Carine invites women to reconnect with their sacred rhythms and inner power. Carine’s creations encourage an authentic, joyful life in harmony with the cycles of life.
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When you start looking at planning your schedule, is the best planning typically practical and flexible?
Yes, it’s always organized and practical. But if something happens and I need to change, I don’t resist anymore. I just say, Okay, it doesn’t work as I want, so I’m going with what it is. It was very big learning for me.
When you start talking about making a plan, are you thinking more in terms of scheduling, or are you thinking in terms of making?
I think of what I want to see on my shop or my stand of my booth during the market. So visually and then producing so, item by item.
Does that mean that you start your plan backwards from firings or from event and work your way towards today?
Yeah, I always plan when I have a date to honor. If I don’t have the pressure to produce for an event, it’s hectic. It’s like when the kiln will be full, then I launch my kiln.
You mentioned that you think about your booth and what you want to have in it. Does that mean that you are building with a form roster? You have a form in mind or a few forms in mind?
Well, actually, my booth is around the four seasons, so I have four universes, let’s say. With the spring i have a lot of colors and butterflies, bees, stuff like that, with planters, vase extra. And same thing for the four seasons. So when I’m low in the spring area, then I know I have to produce more of this stuff and etc for the other seasons. And I changed my production during the year. Obviously the springy stuff is selling more on spring and summer and witchy stuff is more around Halloween and the winter.
I was reading a book called Traction, and they have this idea about planning in 90 day cycles. That idea of cycles, do you do it that way, where you plan in cycles as opposed to a forever plan?
Yeah, I’m really doing a cycle after another. It never really worked when I had a production plan. It’s more of a cycle. And then when one is finished, then I start again. I usually do two, one bisque kiln, very, very full, and then two glazing kilns.
Do you also design your work?
The design is part for me, of the desk work. So it’s upstairs. In the studio I don’t overthink it. I just do it.
I’ve got one last question for you, and I’d like to hear your take on this… I’m going to give you a sentence that I want you to comment on. Here it is: A potter who plans ahead doesn’t make less art, they make more room for art. How would you agree or disagree with that?
I totally agree, because it’s exactly that. It works better when I think of opening space for creation, then I have to do it. I have to produce 20 mugs. So if I say, Okay, now I go to the studio and I’m gonna create, and I have my list everywhere, so I know, but I still give myself the choice to keep the willing, the desire to really can’t work. If I feel I have to, it’s blockage immediately. So I have to trick my mind, you know, find a way to have things accomplished.
Book
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
Contact
Instagram: @la_manufacture_du_bonheur