Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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.
SPONSORS
Number 1 brand in America for a reason. Skutt.com
For all your ceramic needs go to Georgies.com
What does it take to build great skills that are worth selling?
That’s an interesting question. I think it takes hard work, that is definitely number one. It takes someone who is willing to be critical on themselves. It takes looking at other artist’s work, whether it is historical or contemporary. It doesn’t even have to be ceramics. Finding your inspiration. And just building the skill. My mom is an artist and when I was growing up she would tell me you have to learn the skill and then you are allowed to unlearn it. So you have to learn how to make really tight and technically proficient work and then once you are able to do that you can ease back and find your own style.
How does being around other people and watching them help you develop your voice by listening to others?
It has helped me so much. I wouldn’t be any where close to where I am now if I hadn’t been curious and been observing people. There are so many amazing artists at Odyssey Clay Works and being at the Bright Angle I was able to learn so much about the founder and his career. He was a studio potter before he started the Bright Angle. And learning about marketing and just trying to take every single opportunity I had to learn from anyone. And when you gather all that information you are able to pick and choose what applies to you and what feels good.
Where did you learn your skills for marketing?
I pretty much learned all of them from Nick at the Bright Angle. As a start up we’ve learned a lot kind of boots on the ground and learning through doing. I have learned a lot through that job and a lot has been self-taught on my own.
What was your focus for marketing and what was the strongest platform for getting the word out?
Instagram. Typically. Although through the Right Angle recently we have been doing a lot through SEO (search engine optimization) for our website and doing a lot through Google ads and things like that. And that has been really helpful but I feel strongest on Instagram. That is the platform that I know most about.
How do you translate large followings in a platform into sales?
I think that you have to…it is a give and take. You can’t just sell, sell, sell. You have to look at Instagram as an opportunity to share your work and generally share what you are excited about and then you can sell. Does that make sense? I spend a lot of time on Instagram and observing companies and brands and studio potters I believe are doing the best. They are making new things and they are sincerely excited to share that with their Instagram community and then people pick up on that and so they are excited about your work as well.
How much giving should one be giving before they ask for a sale?
I think there is a rule that people have been talking about, I think it is a 30/70 rule maybe. Like 30 percent of the time you are selling and 70 percent of the time you are not. I am not sure if that is the exact percentage and your giving can still be focused on your work. and getting people excited about your work. Like making process videos or things like that. But 30 percent of the time you can be a little bit more direct and say, Hey, I’m actually trying to run a business.
Now that you are getting a taste of what being a full time artist would be, is it everything you thought it would be?
I’m not sure yet. I think that it will be. But I know that it will be really hard work, which I am comfortable with. I get anxious and weird when I am not working hard.
Book
Amazing Glaze by Gabriel Kline
Contact:
Instagram: @lauriecaffery.clay