What’s it Gonna Be?
Pottery, as much as I love it, is not a stable source of income for me. It could be, if I pushed my production rates higher and charged more. This would be through the shipping of products and working with wholesalers and designers, but it’s not really feasible for me.
I’m also a wedding photographer and artist of other mediums. Making pottery my sole source of income would take a little of the magic away and, frankly, make me poorer (sad).
Currently, I’ve been making my work at home and selling it at shows across the state and in both Wren in Bethlehem and Jackson Art, the gallery in Jackson. It’s been awesome, but working at home alone is, well, lonely.
So how to bridge the gap between working on art, but not being alone? And how do I bring my love of teaching (from time as a high school teacher) back into what I do currently? The obvious answer is a pottery studio right here in Gorham, New Hampshire.
My work is not enough on its own to supplement a rental space, which is why I’ve never pursued one before, even back in my artsier city of San Diego. Instead, I worked (both on my own and for as an employee) in an assortment of studio spaces. This approach is way more practical because the classes and member fees keep the lights on while fostering a sense of community. I’m obsessed. And that’s what I’m going to do here!
The goal is for members to be able to enjoy the space by reserving a wheel or a glaze table or a hand-building station from the convenience of an app on their phone. That way they can see if the studio is full before coming. Flexible hours (6am-10pm) mean that members can pop in and out on a schedule that works for them, regardless of their other commitments.
Paint your own pottery will be available in the front room for those wanting a less frequent creative moment. The items are going to range from spoon rests to casserole dishes to mugs to ashtrays with pricing than anyone can work with. There will even be a “seconds” area where items with small defects can be purchased or painted for a discount!
Liz, my friend-turned-landlord, keeps reminding me that I need to make space for my own art to be fulfilled, so there will also be a section of retail space where I get to feature some of my own work. Functional stoneware with my illustrative carvings will homed there. The studio will also operate as my hub for online orders so I can easily pack and ship!
The component I’m most excited about, though, would be the classes and workshop offerings. Currently, seats for clay workshops and classes fill up so quickly! There are some other amazing spots within a 30-50 minute drive of Gorham, but us potters can only offer so much before we run out of juice (and time). These classes will be a variety of multi-week courses (which make you eligible for a membership) and one-time classes where you can come have fun with friends or just commit to an evening of something different. The idea is that they’re flexible and offered at all times of day so anyone’s schedule can find something that works.
Lastly, and this one has nothing to do with clay and everything to do with being lonely while working at home, is co-working! Remote workers and the self-employed will feel my pain. Sometimes it’s nice to just get out of the house to do your work. If you’re anything like me, you’ll be more productive when someone around you is working as well. There’s not a ton of space in the studio itself, so co-working memberships have a cap: four people! This means you’ll have room to sit down without having to worry about fighting over a seat. Well, so long as you’re okay with sharing the space with makers.
The best part of all of this is the location. We’re going to be right on Main Street in Gorham with tons of street parking and the PRETTIEST little courtyard. The fact that we share the building with the local florist and cafe is the cherry on top. I mean, seriously, go grab a mimosa at The Bear and enjoy a painting session. Can you imagine a better Saturday?
Eek! Okay, I’m too excited to keep typing out logistics. If you want to read more, check out our classes page.
Talk to you later!
