How do you go from a farm with a woodfire kiln and two potters to an industrial warehouse that already feels too small? Vision. And a bit of luck. At least, that's what worked for Alex Matisse, founder of the one and only Eastfork Pottery. On this episode, Alex shares insights into the pros and cons of growing such a large, successful business and how taking the time to get clear on a vision is the lynchpin of it all.

At the time of this replay, Asheville, North Carolina (where Eastfork Pottery is located) is currently beginning the slow and arduous process of recovering from the devastating affects of Hurricane Helen. If you are able, please consider donating to any of the following organizations helping with recovery efforts:

World Central Kitchen: On the ground getting meals to those affected.
CERF+: Provides emergency relief grants specifically to craft artists.

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We’re taking a quick season break but in the meantime, enjoy this chat from way back in Season 1 that I had with Katie Meili. We chat about the difficulties of mental health and how it feels when life takes unexpected turns that throw you off a path everyone else around you is on, the silver linings that brought us to clay, and the importance of having a community that supports and pushes us as artists.

Additional Resources since this episode first aired:
Listen to the follow-up conversation I had with the founders of the Village Potter’s on episode #212 here.

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Leap and you’ll learn to fly… The key to success is action… The best way to predict the future is to create it… How many of these tropes have you heard? They are usually associated with that scary first step of making a change in your life to go after something you are dreaming about. And while yes, sure, there is often a moment where, regardless of preparation or planning, making a big change feels scary and you just have to finally do the darn thing - at the same time, there are also very real considerations to be made before you take that leap.

While encouraging each other to go after our dreams and make them happen is important, and while I do believe it is possible to build viable small art businesses for ourselves (clearly), these entrepreneurial tropes - leap and you’ll learn to fly - might actually be doing more damage than good. Sometimes, we leap with the best of intentions, excitement and even planning, and life doesn’t go the way we had envisioned. And frankly, that process isn’t something that gets talked about very often. Which is exactly why I was so impressed with Xioma Ortiz of Hello Xioma and creator of the Domies when she was sharing publicly about the painful decision to close her solo studio.

If you're looking for support in taking your own leap or just starting out and trying to figure out what these crazy steps are, inside of The Community is the place to be. We'll be closing out the year talking about Email Lists - How to start one, how to build one manually vs. with tech assistance, and most of all, how to help be less reliant on the ebbs and flows of social media algorithm robots. Come learn more about the perks of membership by visiting: makersplaybook.com/community

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Thinking about becoming a full time artist is a dream that lingers in the back of many people’s minds. And my assumption is, whenever any of us are dreaming about a change, we mostly think that if we took this leap, if we didn’t have to be bothered with showing up to an office for someone else Monday through Friday, we’d have more time to do the thing we love - to make. But is that what the change is really like? Is selling your work after you do take that leap to be a full time artist the same as selling your work when it’s a side-hustle? In other words, as you will soon hear from Rhianon Vichta, “What do you do when what you did for fun becomes your job?”

Whether you are dreaming of becoming a full time maker or content with your day job but perhaps want to use your time more strategically when you are in the studio, if you are looking for more support from peers and colleagues all over the world, consider joining us inside of The Community. Click here to learn more.

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So what does it mean if the work we’re making isn’t as impermanent as we think? Does it have to be in order to have value? Is there still value when it breaks?

Today, I’m thrilled to partner with the one and only Metropolitan Museum of Art to feature an episode from their own podcast - Immaterial: 5,000 Years of Art, One Material at a Time. Each episode examines a material of art - like clay, stone, or even trash and what they can reveal about history and humanity. On today's episode, you're about to hear the story of Stone I recently listened to from their Season 2 launch. The discussion about what happens when the unbreakable not only breaks but shatters had me constantly thinking about every message I’ve ever sent to someone who’s favorite mug has broken. And I wonder how we all might think a little differently about our less than permanent items after listening to this episode of Immaterial: 5,000 Years of Art, One Material at a Time…

Find more fascinating stories from Immaterial by clicking here.

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As I reflected on what we're doing differently for this market season compared to last year's, I realized a trend that I've also seen after teaching over 200 makers inside our MPSS photography course and journeying along side nearly 100 makers inside of The Community for the past 3 years. And while I don't really believe in magic silver bullets to assured success, this one trait just might be the determining factor from those that do continue to find success vs. those that, understandably, give up.

The Launch is our near real-time series that takes you behind-the-scenes on Francesco and I's own ceramics business, Carra Terra. To catch up on all Launch episodes, click here.

I'm working on a new free PDF resource for researching, preparing and attending in-person markets! To be the first to get this handy checklist, be sure you've signed up for our email list by visiting makersplaybook.com/newsletter

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What does it even mean to “be an artist?” Does it mean you are making work you like to make? Is that art? Does it mean someone else considers you to be whatever their definition of “artist” is? Does it mean not having another job? Or can you be an artist and do something else? Does doing something else actually better allow you to be an artist? Putting it more succinctly, how do you become an artist?

On today’s episode I virtually sit down with Isaac Scott, one of NCECA’s 2024 Emerging Artists, to discuss his own journey in becoming an artist - from first discovering clay, making production work, transitioning to fine art, and ultimately, continuing to figure out how to keep showing up. Because, spoiler alert, perhaps the answer to all of those questions is found in simply (or not so simply) to keep showing up.

Guest Resources:
Isaac's Instagram - @this_is_ceramics

Episode Resources:

You can find Isaac's 2024 NCECA Emerging Artist presentation here.

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If you’re side-hustling your ceramics, are you anxiously awaiting the day you can quit the day job? But what if the day job was actually providing you with the chance to learn to be better at your craft? And no, I’m not talking about a job associated with what you make. I mean a day job totally different than what you dream about making, a job in an office, in a “traditional” employment structure, absolutely not at all associated with the art world. What if that job was actually helping inform how you might be able to dream even bigger about what you could do with your own making business? It might sound crazy, but that’s exactly what Nicole Bernard of NB Makes has been able to find through her communications career. Nicole is balancing a long list of worlds she moves between - from a communications career to growing NB Makes to sitting on boards that make major decisions about funding and somehow also finding the time to commit to a running group. Nicole is taking what she learns from one space and applying it to another - from business to art and art to business. And I think this holistic approach just might be the breath of fresh air so many of us multi-passionate people have been looking for.

If you are looking for support from fellow makers consider joining us inside of The Community. Click here to learn more.

Alternatively, Nicole is also part of an incredible online community called Kaabo Clay. You can learn more about Kaabo by clicking here.

Guest Resources:
Nicole's Instagram - @nb.makes

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