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Erika Christine | Episode 975
Erika Christine is a ceramic artist currently living in Lawrence, Kansas. Erika’s ceramic practice utilizes the potters wheel, hand-building, and slip casting. Each piece is painted by hand with serene colors and florals inspired by nature, traditional textiles, and domestic interiors. Erika’s distinct style is characterized by the joining of the decorative and functional.
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Someone said you have to be distinctive and have your own voice to have a sustainable art business. Do you agree and how do you define that?
Absolutely. I think being distinctive is very important and something I think about a lot. I think you find it by experimenting, by playing around and seeing what excites you. And I think it’s okay if there is an artist’s work that you really like to kind of emulate it when you are starting out. I am not saying sell that but make your own. You like that for a reason and I think you should pay attention to what you like and what excites you.
Another thing he says is that you have to get yourself out there. And he’s talking about making opportunities for your art to be out in the world and I’m curious how did you make those opportunities for you?
I applied to art fairs. You have to be okay with rejection. And I found shops locally that were selling handmade items and valued craft and art. I would reach out and see if they would be interested in selling my work.
The last thing he said was, You’ve got to make good work. How do you keep your quality up and your workmanship growing?
Yeah, that is huge. I think you have to value what you do. At the end of the day I am really proud of my work adn my name and I have respect for my craft and I think it comes down to me. And I am not really willing to compromise and jump on trends and once again it’s kind of the relationship that you have with your craft. And you have to respect it.
How do you keep your relationship with your art vibrant?
Yeah, you know it’s really easy to get burnt out, especially when you do things like wholesale. I think if you are doing pottery full time it’s very easy to get burnt out no matter what you are doing. I think taking time away with other things that you enjoy can help you appreciate it. I think it’s important to not overwork yourself, to be in tune with your mind and body and listen to yourself when you are feeling burnt out and go do something that will fill you in other ways.
How do you develop relationships with stores and boutiques so they stay heathy and they want to keep coming back to you?
I think just continuing to supply them with the quality of work that they expect, you know. When shops order form you again and again then it’s selling and you are providing them with consistent work, your next order the quality didn’t go down and you didn’t skimp on things. I think it’s important to be proud of what you are doing. It will show through, I think.
Do you do anything to have your direct customers want to come back and buy your work?
All I can really do is make the best work I can. If they have one piece from me that they really enjoy, maybe that’s enough for them or maybe they want it in a different color. But I think if they value a handmade object and they value one of your items I feel like that can kind of be contagious. And hopefully they want more. But I don’t know, that’s a good question, I really don’t know. All I can do is make something that I would want to buy from someone else.
Book
Beautiful World Where are You by Sally Rooney
Contact
erikachristineceramics.com
Instagram: @erikachristineceramics