Tag: #torpedofactoryartists

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More Than Taking A Pottery Class

Wanted to address this subject of the popularity of Ceramic classes which seems to have had a burst of popularity and return to making things with your hands, As an instructor of a wheel throwing class I see a great amount of people that take the classes to learn and improve their skill set, others that use it more of a social outlet and way to learn something new and then there is a small group of individuals that want to use it as a source of income, a side hustle, this is dedicated to you…….

From the outside looking in it may seem easy to some that living off what you create in the studio “seems” easy enough but the life of a Maker/Potter isn’t as easy as some might think.

Yes everyone can sign up for a class, learn to hand build or wheel throw. and learn how to glaze or learn couple of decorative techniques and then BOOM! You think you are a potter?

I come across this quite frequently in my line of work as in instructor, and the illusion is sometime quite amusing.

Skill set is one thing, but the making of a style or esthetic takes years of trials and error, to learn primarily what you like, make products that follow that style, promote products through venues, popups or thru galleries to get your name out there are all elements of setting up a way to create a side-hustle that you actually can make some income. I have done this for years and believe me. Online shops are full of good intentions, but in reality are full of mediocre products that mostly look the same with no character that sets them aside from the rest……

Where do you see your artistic creativity going? Who do you want to compete with? Which venues are you going to choose to promote your creativity? These are some of the important questions you have to ponder before you set out to sell your work online or in person thru popups or galleries.

Not a criticism per se, but too many times I see this happen to some people I teach that the craftsmanship and technique of wheel throwing is only an element of the whole process to have work that respects your design esthetic that followers want to acquire…. Think about this as the road to this is always different for each creative maker.

Am leaving it here for you all to think about it, where do you find yourself in road from creativity to commerce? Let me know

Peace out until next time.

thehornypotter

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Markets&Pop Ups: A few Things to Consider

picture for online store

It has been a while since the last entry and I am sorry for the absence from blogging, but Focus was on other work on my plate. I have been concentrating on making stock for upcoming Holiday season and a focus on more affordable work for my followers, while keeping the work and quality consistent. Prices of goods, shipping and other supplies keep rising and it is time that we all access the possibilities as a recession looms.

Smaller or simplified work so that it is within reach of a budget conscious clientele, while keeping the craftsmanship high and keeping return customers coming back. I have shifted a bit of my own production in different directions to test the reaction of clients and new customers, As a multi-disciplined maker,I have the ability to work in different mediums, tho primarily ceramics, I am branching out to sell my aesthetic of things that “I would want to buy”. Empathy helps when planning a strategy for the consumers.

During the Holiday season, focus is on gift buying for others, and we as Makers should not forget about this. Gift giving , when money is tight is a sign that with few exceptions, the amount of money spent for gifts will be less than normal. I am trying to provide thrifty alternatives that follows my aesthetic, and keeping an eye on what I will charge for the final products.

You can always make higher priced work to display with the more affordable products, I think that it is aways a good idea to show your clients the possibilities of your creativity and range, so that you do not put yourself into a box or corner, but show different price points of your own work. So people can get an idea for the future.

When showing work at Art Fairs, Pop-Ups and other venues… Remember, display your best work, possibly in different price points, keep it clean and simple and have stock to replace items, and most importantly, do not OVERstock your display with “TOO MUCH” work, this can confuse the consumer as to what to buy. Price all pieces individually with tags or good signage, and let the prospective client browse without trying to hard sell your work. Have business cards available with online shop info……. People need time to reflect sometimes, especially when money is tight, Give them the space to observe and ask questions, be helpful and professional about explaining the techniques used for the works on display. …

I receive many commissions from the shows that I have done in the past so your signage, contact info is also a priority….. Remember to Sell Your Aesthetic and NOT Your Soul. People buy from makers because of your style of making things, do not forget this and underprice your creative work in order to sell. We need to be paid for our artistic strife to make handmade goods, It is a choice when you sell “Handmade”

All for now, Peace OUT

thehornypotter

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NCECA in Richmond 2024

This time of year is hectic with show calls for entry, and the upcoming NCECA Ceramic conference in Richmond in mid-March which was cancelled the first time due to COVID and now it is all set to see what is up in the ceramic world regarding education, upcoming trends and the various popups in the convention but most importantly Outside of the venue with different concurrent exhibitions going on the week from March 20-25th, 2024. I am again participating in a couple of shows there(but stay tuned to my IG for more information) as it gets closer to the event.

Whether a part time potter, teacher or student, It is always important to see the new aspects of the Industry. There has been a revival of interest due to TikTok and other social media platforms as hobbyists, influencers and professionals are gettin online to instruct, promote and use social media to reach a vaster audience and create a stir about their work. This has become part of the game to find new ceramic artists, or communities of potters and hobbyists.

The image above is one of the pieces which was presented in the last NCECA in Cincinnati at the Carl Solway Gallery, collective show of Erotic Ceramic Artists called “Obscene” and was a big hit with the ceramic crowd as an obligatory stop of one of the concurrent exhibitions outside of the Ceramic Conference. More than 90 concurrent Exhibits in and around Cincinnati and though exhausting, I want thank the organizers of the show for their hardworking effort to make that show a success.

Hopefully you get the opportunity to come to Richmond and check out this year’s conference and the concurrent shows going on that week. Discover new ceramic artists, network with the potters community or even donate a cup to NCECA so that in some way you can support the initiative in some way so that the ceramic community can grow stronger with many interesting forms of expressions in clay.

All for now, hope to see you there.

thehornypotter

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Changes @ The Torpedo Factory Studio

For the first time since returning to the US, I have decided to take on my studio at the Torpedo Factory Art Center solo. My studio partner of many years has decided to sublet in other studios, so this leaves me with the decision to take my studio on alone for a couple of months and determine if it is do-able.

Believing in your creative work and gambling to see if your artistic endeavors can pay off is always the dream of many creatives, Sometimes solitude gives you the space to create un-interrupted and the flow of creativity can change and be altered.

There are a lot of changes going on at the Art Center, New artists arriving, another round of re-jurying of current artists, and the departure of many long time artists is happening within the building. So tensions are high, and many changes are occurring.

Change , for many is difficult butt sometimes necessary….For better or worse, it is a fact that everyone must adapt and take on the decisions with that come to us in the art community.This will help us to grow and maybe shift our focus in our work.

Working in front of the public isn’t the easiest aspect of being at the Art Center, stop and go is part of the routine to welcome art admirers and clients as you work through the current work at hand. Being a monkey in a cage, is not for every artist but providing the public the possibility of seeing the work process, and inspiring other part-time artists is important to show that it is possible.It also gives you the possibility to SEE the reaction of viewers to new work…..

This coming year, I will have to re-jury into the Art Center and have to be able adapt and prepare for the jurying. As my studio partner moves out after years of sharing a studio, I will be able to re-define the space and better utilize the walls and space to show the paths of creativity in 2D and 3D in ceramics, mix-media and illustration. Exciting and scary at the same time, hoping in the end that the added financial burden will pay off…

Will keep you all posted as things evolve……

thehornypotter

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No Time to Write, Just Produce

Due to un foreseen circumstances, my writing has taken a back seat to priorities as I find myself in the studio producing many new works for artist calls and a jurying process that I must focus on as the deadline nears. Been a rocky time since the last time I was able to blog, a lot of things are in continuous motion, and changes to the ceramic art scene. Some of the galleries I have participated in are closing their doors, and the search for new places to do group exhibitions are on the horizon, as I continue to look at different possibilities where my work can take hold and be open to a new set of viewers and art enthusiasts.

Change is good, as we all start to feel stagnant in the same shows and exhibition spaces. I want to thank the online community for the various opportunities that I have seen online, and new places to explore and visit.

How do you see your work in the scheme of things? With the arrival of Summer and the end of lockdowns, I think that it is essential to try some new things such as applying to collective exhibits, online or in person and maybe even a workshop to increase the knowledge of your chosen skill or craft.

It seems that there are many out there that, aside from taking a class have never pushed the envelope and gone on to the next steps of applying to a show, local or far away and start to look at new opportunities that may be about.

Right now , I am about to start my side hustle of teaching for the next 10 weeks and doing a workshop for some advanced students. As I teach , I also learn the capacity of my students and learn new things about technical aspects of the workshop that I am teaching.

Learning to step out of the box, and your usual routine, will help you to grow and not just settle for the things you know, and the places you exhibit. Finding new venues will help you challenge yourself and most importantly “learn” how your work is perceived and in some ways helps you to adjust your journey to make the adventure more profitable and time worthy. Yes there are costs along the way, but you get nothing if you do not invest the time in yourself and your work. Hopefully, this will inspire you to look at the various calls on Call for Entry or Entrythingy, or similar platforms that promote calls, residencies and even solo show. Give it a try and thank you all for understanding about my long silence online.

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Call for Entries and The Digital Divide

I thought That I would write to you all about something that has been currently occupying my time as of late, Calls for Entries and other submissions to Regional and National competitions where there is the opportunities to see where we all are in the life of Creative Souls and what the reactions is to the our work that we put out for artist calls for entry.

Not just in you neighborhood or local places but reaching out , to new venues that are done through the calls for submission of work, based on a specialized theme and the possibilities of getting into a group or solo shows that is not on your home turf…

As many galleries and creative venues are beginning to open and the hope that a return of a “New Normal” ,the various Art Spaces are having events to attract back the crowd that disappeared during the Covid Lockdowndue to restrictions. During that time, under the COVID lockdown, I focused my thoughts and energy more to the online reality and promised myself to apply to at least 3 calls during the year, regardless whether I get accepted or not.

It is really important that we all discipline ourselves to put our work out there and see how we measure up to the rest of the art communities. Depending on your medium, there are a lot of sites out there that are dedicated to the open calls, the fees, the image formats and how things need to be named and size restriction. and shipping back and forth, commissions taken by the organizations and the list goes on and on…..

We as Creatives need to grow a thick skin and put ourselves out there with the best. Painters, Fiber Artist or Potter/Illustrator like myself. The challenge of wading into” the unknown” is frightening and exciting at the same time. For those of you that are not exactly tech savvy, this is the opportunity to better your skills to the practical sides of the creative process, and Learn to do it better than before. Take pictures , re-size images, pay the fees and read the fine print is actually an important part of the Creative process. I especially am speaking to the generation of mid-life artists that are not so tech oriented. For them and all of you I want to say that with the advancement in technology and the internet. THIS is now part of the game. Everything is done online and we all need to get accustomed to it as it will not go away. We need to change with the times and adapt and learn the new ways that Calls for Submissions are done now and not 20 years ago.

Knowing that many of the older artists and some newbies too, do not know what to do….I will give you an example .Case in point, working in front of the public, I encounter many “wannabe artists” that want to show me their work on their phones, sometimes it can be actually decent, but most times it is mediocre…. Not to be mean, but this represents a lot of wannabe artists that are in mid-life, and have no idea how these things are done in regards to getting their work out there, where to take classes, the venues etc…. This happens to me quite frequently and am amazed that some people regardless of age , have seemed to miss the boat about the internet, social media and how things are done in the real world, especially during COVID and the lockdowns The virtual reality became very important to us as it was our escape from isolation….. Still I see many that have missed the boat…. As an artist we all need to be informed and it is ALL out there at the reach of you smartphone.

Where are you in this moment?

How many artists calls have you done during the COVID lockdown?

How many virtual shows or gallery submissions have you done that are OUT of State and not local?

Do you have someone help you to do the technical things associated with an artist calls for submission?

Do you fear of being rejected from these calls, because you feel others are better, so you continue to do the same things you know and do only this every year?Or some other excuse?

TOUGH questions, I know but this is what is called “growing” and “growing a thick skin” which we all need to do when, we put ourselves out there. Never easy, always difficult and time to stop making excuses and get on board. Many of my fellow artists are great people, but they only want to do the things they know…The reality is that if you do not put yourself out there, you will never know of all the possibilities of new venues tops your work, or grow a bigger audience that is attracted to your work, followers and perspective clients…

Do yourself a favor, look in the mirror and be honest with yourself and see where you fall in the TOUGH questions above, and do something about it. My blogging is not here to nag you, but INSPIRE you about all the possibilities out there….

Until next time, peace out….

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Social Conscience While Returning to the Studio

Been a bit since my last entry and as we are cautious getting back to work, I have spent many sleepless nights thinking and about what it means to getting back to work. Things will not be like they were before.I work in a studio that is open to the public where visitors can wander in and out of our studios as we work on our artisan crafts ,and even though we are ALL starting to go back to our workplaces,many of the other artists raise concerns about safety and measures to protect those of us, working with the Public.

There are many sectors that I am observing as the reopening go through the various phases, mask protection,hand sanitizers and deep cleaning of areas in and around our structure, but Alarmingly I still observe too many people on the streets without masks,even children that seem oblivious to the health concerns that effect all of us and it causes me to pause about opening up my studio to the general public.

I look for feedback from other artists that may, to some degree be in the same/similar situations.I know all to well that we all have taken a serious bit to our financial situations but also fear, like many the right balance between financial security and health risks while dealing with the public. Please give me your opinions on how you are starting up your businesses and what the precautions you are taking. In some way or another whether going back to the office, restaurants even drinks with friends are all now subject to new ways of getting together while remaining safe. Your opinions on this subject and I will be open to input or advice in how to structure the re-opening to my workspace as we weave in and out of the various Phases…Guys ,The “new normal” of doing things.

What will be the precautions are we going to take when our studios open up to the public, for our protection and the protection of those visitors and arts supporters. How do we implement these personal protection techniques to our business and studios?  A lot of questions to think about and ponder as the various Phases of re-opening  during this Pandemic.

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Creativity &the New Normal

picture for online store

Since my last entry and still today , many artists and creative professionals have had to adapt to the closures of business due to this pandemic. It is essential at this time, that we continue to create and find other methods to move our work online which is slowly becoming the new norm. Our Creative Community is one of the many places that due to lock downs & social distancing, We have to use this time to alter our game plans of ways to create in our spaces,if possible, and find new platforms on which to participate to let your followers, public and patrons can Be aware that “Yes” we are still hear, and the online presence is more important than before.

I work in one of the few artist community where, due to the Pandemic, Our studios, (usually open to the public) are still closed even though were are still able to work from our spaces and finding new ways to sell our work is imperative to pay rent and the bills just like everyone else. Some artists have closed up studios and look for a new place to work, others have been concentrating on opening online shops and revising their websites and most importantly, many have continued to apply to VIRTUAL shows to get a bit more traffic and interest in their work and exposure.

We have to realize that things will never be like it was before, and a return to a “New Normal” is going to take a longer time than most realize. Galleries,Museums and Art spaces all have to create a new way on how to do openings in a Safe and Social Distancing manner.

We have not experience this before, The Creative community needs to observe the other sectors that are also being effected by this crisis,Restaurants,Hotel&Travel Industries are all looking a new ways to serve the community while keeping everyone safe. We need to watch what is happening in those sectors and use the good ideas,that will effect all to our advantage.

Remember, we are all in this together. We need to help our fellow artists in their endeavors, regardless of their own personal choices. Share our thoughts when asked, and most importantly, Do not be scared to try new things in order to continue to making your art. It is so important to not get discouraged from all the isolation we have experienced in the past weeks. Share with your artists community and support them in any way that you can. Be nice, but also be open to change. It might not feel comfortable but it is necessary.

I would love to have some feedback or links to creative ways that are out there or that you have tried or experienced. Till the next time , Be calm, take a deep breath and continue to create.

thehornypotter