#294 Painting Emotions onto Clay: How Anime Influenced My Pottery Journey

In this episode of 'Shaping Your Pottery' hosted by Nic Torres, the focus is on the vital importance of caring for your customers in the pottery business. The discussion emphasizes how engaging with and valuing customer feedback has been instrumental for Teri in selling her pottery and guiding the direction of her work. Teri exemplifies this by actively soliciting feedback from her audience through polls on Instagram, such as which color glazes to use, allowing customers to feel involved in the creation process. This customer-centric approach is presented as a method to enhance the connection between the potter, the pottery, and the user. The episode argues that while it's paramount to care for your customers' preferences, finding a balance with personal enjoyment in pottery making is essential. Engaging with customers not only provides valuable outside feedback but also fosters a sense of inclusion, making them part of the pottery's journey from creation to final product.

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In this episode, Nic discusses the significance of articulating your thoughts and preferences concerning pottery, drawing on insights from an interview with Luke Bone Cutter. Nic explains that understanding and expressing why you like certain aspects of pottery, whether it's colors, shapes, or techniques, can not only deepen your appreciation of others' work but also refine your own craft. He encourages listeners to examine a favored piece of their own work, dive deep into understanding their preferences, and apply the same critical thought to others' pottery. This practice, Nic argues, can help potters develop a clearer voice and vision in their work. Additionally, Nic offers resources for listeners struggling to find a unique theme for their pottery, directing them to a website offering 53 potential themes to inspire their work. 

Get your 53 themes by clicking this link shapingyourpottery.com/53themes

In this episode of 'Shaping Your Pottery', potter Kym Owens shares her personal journey from ballet dancer to becoming a successful potter, offering advice for aspiring artists on perseverance, mentorship, and creativity. Kim discusses the importance of embracing failure, seeking mentorships, and engaging with the pottery community, whether locally or online. She emphasizes the necessity of dedicating oneself wholly to art, the benefits of repetition and organization in her work, and finding one's unique voice in pottery. Kim also highlights practical aspects of pottery, such as pricing and the business side, and encourages artists to be patient and persistent in their creative pursuits. You can learn more about Kym by checking out her instagram @kopottery and checking out her work at these places The Companion Gallery- The Barn Gallery - Artful Home -Feats of Clay

The Questions we ask will determine how our pottery will look like that's why I created a Free 15 questions to help you discover your voice template go grab it here www.shapingyourpottery.com/questions

In this episode of 'Shaping Your Pottery,' host Nic Torres interviews Leigh Weinberg, a potter inspired by children's books, who shares her journey of finding her unique voice in pottery. Lee discusses the evolution of her pottery skills, the importance of being authentic, and her unconventional methods of selling pottery. She emphasizes the role of failure in learning and developing her own style, transitioning from a college art program to becoming a professional potter during the pandemic. Leigh also details her business approach, from setting up shop updates to pricing her work, and the positive impact of social media on her career. Furthermore, she shares insights into her creative process, from inspiration sources to silkscreen techniques, and offers advice for aspiring potters on discovering their own voice. The episode is not only an exploration of Leigh's artistic journey but also serves as motivation for artists to pursue their passions authentically and confidently. You can learn more about Leigh by checking out her instagram @lawful_nature

00:00 Introduction and Background
00:04 The Journey of a Potter: Lee Weinberg
00:23 The Importance of Authenticity in Pottery
00:38 Lee's Unconventional Ways of Selling Pottery
01:03 The Role of Failure in Pottery
02:26 Lee's First Pottery Class Experience
04:26 Impact of the Pandemic on Lee's Pottery Journey
07:12 The Evolution of Lee's Illustrative Animal Pottery
09:28 The Influence of Children's Books on Lee's Work
14:58 The Business Side of Pottery
24:13 Discovering Your Voice in Pottery
33:24 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Take this Free Quiz to see how close you are to finding your pottery voice click here to take the quiz shapingyourpottery.com/quiz 

In this podcast episode, host Nic Torres discusses how he incorporated five different pottery techniques into his own work. He emphasizes the importance of observing other people's pottery, but adapting and shaping them based on personal preferences rather than blindly copying them. He uses the examples of sculpting and underglazing techniques he admired in the work of other potters and talks about how he applied these methods while also retaining his own unique style. Nic concludes by sharing and inviting listeners to visit his website for a collection of 53 different themes they can apply to their pottery to avoid creative burnout and establish a distinctive style. 

Get your 53 themes by clicking this link shapingyourpottery.com/53themes

In this episode of 'Shaping Your Pottery', host Nic Torres shares insights gleaned from his interview with prominent Potter, Casey Stelter. Casey enjoys slip casting because it allows her to focus more on the design and finishing aspects of pottery, which she finds most exciting. Using her experience, Nic suggests that in order to make pottery more enjoyable and find one's unique voice in it, enthusiasts should identify and commit to the processes they love the most, even if it means leaving out or simplifying other parts.

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Developing and Trusting Your Instincts in Pottery

In this episode, Nic Torres discusses the importance of trusting one's instincts, especially in pottery. He shares personal anecdotes and examples to illustrate his points, highlighting a particular instance where going against his instincts led to a piece breaking. He emphasizes that gut feelings are often right and should generally be followed in the creative process. Finally, he gives advice on how to develop instincts in pottery - making a lot of pots, slowing down to analyze work and following feelings. He offers a free 15 question booklet to help listeners discover their unique pottery voice. www.shapingyourpottery.com/questions

 An Interview with Corey Dewitt

In this episode of 'Shaping Your Pottery', host Nic Torres hosts Corey Dewitt, a Potter known for his fantasy-inspired Tiki mugs. Throughout the conversation, Corey highlights the importance of community in his ceramics journey, discusses his inspirations, and explains the reasoning behind his pre-order sales approach. He also shares his excitement over his successful 'One Piece' inspired mugs. Corey's unique pottery niche combines his love for anime with functional ceramics leading to a broad customer base. Corey finally stresses the need for aspiring ceramic artists to connect with communities —both offline and online— and leverage these platforms for learning and growing their reach.

00:00 Introduction to Corey and His Pottery Journey
02:05 Corey's Inspiration and Start in Pottery
04:27 The Importance of Functionality in Pottery
05:43 The Story Behind 'Captain of Nothing'
07:24 Creating Unique Fantasy-Inspired Pottery
09:53 The Role of Monster Clay in Pottery
15:30 Transitioning to Full-Time Pottery
20:17 The Art of Pre-Order Sales
23:56 Discovering Your Unique Voice in Pottery
25:29 The Power of Collaboration and Community
29:28 Final Thoughts and Parting Advice

In this engaging episode, potter Nicola Moore (also known as Nic) shares her journey in the craft, along with the keys to developing one's unique style. She highlights her love of making pottery, experiments in microwave firing, and her decision to go full-time with her passion. Showing her keen interest in various painting styles and glaze types, Nicola shares her Instagram success, pottery workshops and courses. She emphasizes the importance of trusting and following one's intuition, not just in pottery but in life's decisions too. Finally, she highlights her upcoming exhibition 'Gathering' at the Neo Gallery, Los Angeles.

00:00 Introduction to Nicola Moore and Her Love for Pottery
01:46 Nicola's Journey into Pottery
03:37 Transition from Painting to Pottery
05:44 The Impact of Owning a Kiln
08:47 Experimenting with Different Firing Techniques
16:13 The Business Side of Pottery
21:30 Discovering Your Unique Voice in Pottery
27:00 Final Thoughts and Conclusion

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Nic Torres highlights the importance of breaking away from routine to foster creativity in pottery making. He shares an anecdote of Nicole Dacey, who found inspiration after a trip to Joshua Tree during COVID-19 lockdown. Torres stresses the importance of taking breaks from normal everyday stuff to allow new ideas to flow and avoid getting stuck in repetitive tasks. Whether it's exploring different pottery styles, or simply taking some time to relax, making this a regular part of your schedule can make a big difference. He also provides a link to a free booklet to help listeners discover their own unique pottery voice. www.shapingyourpottery.com/questions

00:00 Introduction: The Importance of Taking Breaks
00:20 Inspiration from a Trip to Joshua Tree
01:12 The Dangers of Repetition and the Power of Change
02:16 Practical Tips for Taking Breaks
02:47 Personal Anecdote: The Need for Breaks in Family Life
03:23 Conclusion: Refresh Your Pottery Practice with Breaks
04:01 Bonus: Discover Your Unique Pottery Voice