It has been said that if you want to grow, then choose your friends wisely and spend time with books. Matthew gives us his insights on the impact or reading. To listen in on this conversation, click HERE.
Author Archive: Paul Blais
Being A Clay Teacher | Tosha McCarter | Episode 862
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Tosha McCarter | Episode 862
Tosha McCarter is a Ceramic Artist born and raised in Northern California. Her introduction to the arts stared at an early age when her late father instilled a spirt of self discovery through creativity. After years of expression through her art, she came back to ceramics, one of the earliest art forms that she and her father did together. Studying at Shasta College under professor and sculptural artist David Grimm Gentry, her passion grew quickly as she discovered the strong connections she felt working with clay.
Setting Roots And Growing The Art Career | Valerie Costanza | Episode 861
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Valerie Costanza | Episode 861
Valerie Costanza earned a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts with emphasis in Ceramics from the Gwen Frostic School of Art inside Western Michigan University. While attending art school in Kalamazoo, MI (yes it’s a real place!) Valerie found a passion for working with her hands and using materials from earth to make functional objects and sculpture. Upon graduation, her work moved all across the country, living and working nomadically in various states growing as an artist and maker. Now, nestled in Georgia, Valerie has officially opened her own humble ceramics small business – mind body clay ceramics & teaches the art of creating in clay to the public.
Taking Ownership of Your Art Career with Valerie Costanza
Personal responsibility is critical growing a business. Valerie and I talk about things like knowing your “Why”, being proactive, keeping your eye on the prize, and so much more. If you would like to listen in on this conversation, then click HERE.
Some Nitty Gritty On Pricing | Sara Ballek | Episode 860
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Sara Ballek | Episode 860
Sara Ballek is back on The Potters Cast. Sara’s first visit to the show was back in 2020 right before the pandemic struck. So I thought it would be great to get an update on how things have progressed and changed in her life. So this is my second conversation with Sara.
Making A Work Space For Efficiency with Sara Ballek
Sara Ballek
In business one of the most effective ways to control costs is by controlling efficiency in work. Sara talks us through her approach to creating efficiency. To listen in to this conversation, click HERE.
A Board Member of Studio Potter | Hayne Bayless | Episode 859
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Hayne Bayless | Episode 859
Growing up in Seattle, Hayne Bayless first got interested in clay when he found an old potter’s wheel and kiln in a corner of the high school art room. The art teacher knew enough about pottery to point him to Leach’s A Potter’s Book, and that became his guide. Other than lessons with a potter in Tokyo as a late teen, Hayne managed to avoid any formal education in ceramics.
Hayne abandoned wheel-throwing early on, lured by the freedom that hand-building offers. He set up his first studio in a tiny basement he shared with a washer and dryer, a stack of snow tires, mice and the snakes that ate them. The workspace amounted to a little more than a hundred square feet. To navigate the cramped quarters he sometimes had to slide sideways, and since then it’s been Sideways Studio. It also applies to a certain way of looking at things; instead of encountering an idea head-on, you might approach it from a different angle, even sideways. It can help avoid the traps of your own assumptions and biases. His studio is larger now and still cluttered, but he doesn’t have to walk sideways.
“It Morphed Into A Career And I Didn’t Know It” | Shikha Joshi | Episode 858
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Shikha Joshi | Episode 858
Shikha Joshi is a studio potter based in Round Rock, Texas. Born and raised in New Delhi, India, Joshi learned ceramics through community classes and workshops in the US. Joshi likes her pieces to be used, and aspires to make work that brings joy to people’s daily lives.
She Just Graduated And Is Selling Her Work | Kylie Smithline | Episode 857
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Kylie Smithline | Episode 857
Kylie Smithline received her BFA in Ceramics at Jacksonville University. As a ceramicist, Kylie enjoys creating large-scale sculptural work that is non-representational as well as functional-work that corresponds with the sculptures. Kylie began working with clay in high school and decided to choose this as a career path after falling in love with the material and process.
Mug & Song | Nathan & Andrew Pauls | Episode 856
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Nathan & Andrew Pauls | Episode 856
Nathan and Andrew Pauls are brothers and they have collaborated on some art. Andrew, who is a musician, wrote 14 songs for a song writers event where people are challenged to create a record album length group of songs in one month. Nathan joined in on all the fun and created a series of mugs in response to the music that Andrew wrote. This is the result of their collaboration. Each mug below is made by Nathan, and right below it is the song created by Andrew that inspired Nathan. They are presented in order of creation.
