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Building Your Pottery Brand: Ana Leal’s Advice for Artists
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In this episode of Shaping Pottery, Ana Leal shares her journey to becoming a successful potter, starting from accidental encounters with clay to becoming a featured artist in prominent galleries. Her advice for aspiring potters includes pursuing what you are passionate about, the importance of self-promotion, engaging with potential galleries, and continuously learning through videos, workshops, and conferences. Ana also discusses the various techniques she uses in her work, combining functionality with sculptural elements, and shares insights on how her past career in 3D CAD design has contributed to her artistic growth. Finally, she offers invaluable tips for potters seeking to discover their unique voice and gain visibility for their work. You can learn more about Ana by checking out her instagram https://www.instagram.com/analealpottery/
Want a fast track to finding your own Artistic Identity with your pottery come join the clay games community click here to join https://shapingyourpottery.ck.page/products/the-clay-games-community
00:00 Introduction and Key to Pottery Success 01:00 Ana's Journey into Pottery 05:04 Showcasing Work in Galleries 12:15 Exploring Pottery Techniques 23:33 Becoming a Full-Time Potter 30:23 Finding Your Unique Voice 38:13 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
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Transcript
The Role of Passion in Pottery
00:00:00
Speaker
Ana, welcome to shaping pottery and share with me what is something you believe pottery should be doing to have success in pottery? Well, I'm happy to be here with you and your podcast. And so what I think they should be doing first of all is to to make what you like to really have that passion for something instead of trying to to look at other people's work and trying to copy, you know, and just to do something that you really have that passion for.
Facing the Necessity of Self-Promotion
00:00:29
Speaker
And then the second thing I would say to be successful nowadays, you do have to do self-promoting. It's something that a lot of people, you know, dislike, but it's like, to me, it's like that necessary evil, except especially for me. I don't like doing it, but you have to. So putting your work out there and as many social media platforms as you can to really be seen, to have your work seen.
00:01:00
Speaker
Definitely agree 100%. And we'll talk more about that a little bit later. But for now, tell me the story how you got started making pottery.
Discovering Pottery in Georgia
00:01:08
Speaker
So the way I got started, it was completely by accident, I was never exposed to clay at a younger age, even like him when i I grew up in Brazil. So over there, we didn't have clay like they do here, you know, in America, they you take some art classes. So i I was never exposed to that except for I remember seeing like going to art shows and I was always drawn to pottery. Like my mother liked it. My sisters, you know, we all liked pottery. My mother had a lot of pottery at home. So that was my experience with clay. So
00:01:48
Speaker
I've always liked, I always took like many crafty classes like stained glass jewelry making. So I was always very artistic, but never with clay. I had never touched clay. So it wasn't until in 2010, I was transferred from my work from upstate New York to Georgia.
00:02:11
Speaker
And it's a big company. So when I got here, I was looking, I can't remember if I got an email about hobby clubs that my company actually had hobby clubs that you could join for photography. Everything was sponsored by the company. So one of them was ceramics. So immediately I thought that would be something that I would like and to meet new people you know here.
00:02:39
Speaker
So I joined and it was basically for retirees and employees that the club, you know, they they had a full studio in the grounds of the the company.
00:02:54
Speaker
And ah ahll just along with other you know photography mechanic, you can learn about doing car repairs and stuff. And so I was just in awe by all everything that they offered. And all we had to pay is $35 a year and had access to clay. They had three kilns. And apparently from what I remember, that club had been been there since the 1950s.
00:03:23
Speaker
You know, people had used to do a lot of in the old days, they used to do a lot of slip casting work. So there was a ton of molds. And then the people that were there when I joined, we we weren't that many. But they were so gracious to teach me everything they knew. So we didn't have like a teacher was more like a meeting type thing. Once a week, we had the key to the studio. So you could actually go there after work and spend time there, you know,
00:03:53
Speaker
using clay they had a a few glazes not a whole lot but it's something to get you started so so they taught me how to do slab building work right it's usually when you start that's how you start doing slab building even though we had one potter's wheel in there that nobody used i think one person two people knew but mostly was all hand built stuff so It was like the first time I touched clay for to me was like I always say was love at first touch because I just touched clay and I just knew it was for me. In my my mind I just knew all the possibilities you know just learning what you could do and that wasn't even when I didn't know anything about wheel thrown stuff that was just
00:04:45
Speaker
even making a mug, you know, I do remember when I made my first mug using just from the slab, you know, and that was fascinating to me. So, and then later on I start using the wheel just on my own and the rest is history. Absolutely loved that story. It was a great story.
Connecting with Galleries on Instagram
00:05:05
Speaker
So you have had the great opportunity to showcase your work in Charlie Cummings Gallery. Tell me the story how this came to be.
00:05:12
Speaker
So I think i I came across some of their posts on Instagram and I don't think I've seen them on Facebook, you know, it was Instagram. So I just loved how they used to post different people's work that were so different, like sculptural work.
00:05:31
Speaker
Wood fire, raku, which is something I haven't done yet, but I would like to try someday. But I just love seeing the different types of work, especially when you're learning, you're being exposed to everything. So I started engaging, you know, just liking their posts and maybe commenting here and there.
00:05:53
Speaker
And then I remember one year they they they followed me on Instagram. So I thought that that was a good sign. When I knew they followed me, that that meant meant to me that they had seen my work and they probably liked what they saw. And then in January of 2023, last year, they I got an email from them inviting me to be part of their exhibition called Wild Places.
00:06:22
Speaker
And I believe it's because they saw the the pieces that I was making at the time was more of the tropical birds with the kind of like that rainforest background that I like to put on my work. And I thought that they, that's what I'm thinking. They saw that and they thought would be a good fit for that exhibition. And they said, I would like love to see what you can do.
00:06:49
Speaker
you know, for this exhibition and I think they required required ah was either four or five mugs, um maybe it was five and I sent it to them and it was a success I sold and that kind of gave me that, you know,
00:07:06
Speaker
reassuring that I guess my work was good enough to be at a gallery. So it was really nice. They're they're really nice people to work with. And then from there, they this year, they invited and on the beginning of the year, I was invited to do the Birds, Birds 2 exhibition, which is sculpture, not not functional work. And I hadn't done that before because I used to make sculptural work to go on a piece, like on a either mug or vase or whatever. that's my My work is more functional. But i I accepted the challenge because I love challenges and I start sculpting. you know I got the clay that is just for sculpture and I i loved it. i That was the first time I actually made something that was a bit in bigger scale.
00:08:00
Speaker
and it worked. I tested first and it worked out with the underglazes that I wanted to use and and then I used I think I sent them four birds different birds that I made. And they all sold and then they invited me for for being their featured artist. And that was a little bit more challenging because I usually work on small batches at a time. So they required 45 pieces, which to me is a lot. You know, I'm not a production potter. I do take my time with my work so it takes a little longer.
00:08:38
Speaker
because it is all sculptural and stuff. So it took me a little longer to have those 45 pieces, but anyways, I sent it to them. That was recently. And out of that, I think I still have 10 pieces there available, but they keep it for a year and whatever it doesn't sell, they'll send it back to me. So I'm hoping by Christmas that I'll sell the the rest. So anyways, they're they're really nice to work with.
00:09:08
Speaker
or are you feeling when you first got accepted into this gallery? Oh, I, it was great because I thought that's more people that their customers are going to get to know my work. So I think it does help even though, you know how any gallery, they take a big portion of what they, what you charge, right?
Overcoming Rejections in Art Showcasing
00:09:33
Speaker
So you giving that big,
00:09:36
Speaker
break to them and what you're getting is not as much but I still think it's worth it because it's it's being at a place that they have collectors you know pottery collectors that are serious about art you know and it just gave me that reassurance that my work was good enough to be at a gallery. Now if someone also wants to showcase to work in a gallery what advice would you give them?
00:10:04
Speaker
So I would say doing what I did at first, in trying to engage with them. ah If you know there is a gallery out there that you're interested in having them showcase your work to do that. And then if if you're not getting any response, reach out. I don't think there is anything wrong of sending a nice letter and telling how you feel that you think, you know, if they would be willing to showcase your work send some pictures or even a DM on Instagram. But not only that, years ago I lived in a place that was near a gallery. so
00:10:43
Speaker
Charlie Coming is more of an online presence, but if you know that you live near a gallery that you wanted to show your pieces at that gallery, just go there. So I went to this gallery that was close to where I lived before that they were mostly pottery, even though they had other paintings, jewelry, but most of it, it was pottery, a pottery gallery. So I just had a few pieces that I made that I was very excited and And this was kind of like half ah halfway where I thought my work was good enough. And I just went there, talked to the owner and sat with her. As soon as she saw my work, she loved it. And I went with low expectations that she would just tell me yes, you know, but she did. So there's nothing wrong with you approaching. And and even if people say no to you, just keep trying, you know, don't
00:11:41
Speaker
let that no answer be, you know, put you down. That's, I've had so many people say no or not even answering. So that, that never stopped me. The worst that can happen is for them to say no. So I always have that in mind. So that's my advice. Don't be embarrassed. Yeah. Absolutely love that advice. Shape Nation. If you're looking to get into a gallery, the more repetitions you do and just reach out to people,
00:12:08
Speaker
That's how you're gonna get into galleries. Don't be afraid to reach out and it's okay if they say no because there's other galleries out there. I absolutely love that. So let's talk about your pottery. Can you tell me a story how you started making the pottery that you make today?
00:12:22
Speaker
So the pottery I make today, iss of course, is very different than from what I started, but I i believe it's because I like challenges. So as soon and as I knew the basics of throwing, then to me that wasn't enough. I wanted to create more art, you know, than just playing.
00:12:44
Speaker
like production work. So that's the direction I knew I wanted to go. So I started watching a lot of videos and experimenting. Like I said, I think I am an explorer because I i do like to experiment with different techniques. And then I started making little sculptures.
00:13:07
Speaker
like I think my first pieces that I did with sculpture they were they were called mini bird baths and I named it that way and people just loved it I used to sell back then I used to sell it at Etsy so those were like jewelry holders that I don't know you probably have seen it's something that you put all the holes around and you you hang your earrings and it's a jewelry holder. So I shaped it with a pedestal, with a bowl, just like a bird bath. And then I used to put little birds. I used to put dragonflies, butterflies on it. So that was the type of sculpture that I started back then.
00:13:46
Speaker
And then it kind of evolved into the bigger scale that I do nowadays. And that came about with just trying, you know, just watching videos. I took one workshop that was for pinch pots, making portraits out of pinch pots. Even though I didn't think I did well on portraits, making faces, but I learned the technique and then I knew I like to make birds and animals. So that helped me using that same technique to use what I do now, the the sculpture that I do now. So that's
00:14:25
Speaker
kind of evolved. I don't know if I answered your question. Yes, yes he did. So you mentioned that you you like making birds and animals. Why do you like making birds and animals?
00:14:38
Speaker
That's just anything that is nature related. It's what I have in mind from my memories in Brazil, like especially tropical things. that that's It's always in my memory and it comes through to my work. I started with that and now I'm branching out into more other animals.
00:14:58
Speaker
ah just because it it comes so easy to me making sculptures and I thought, why not? So I started with you know little things and then I evolved to tropical frogs, tropical birds like toucans, macaws, that's what I like. But now I'm experimenting doing foxes and other animals and and I love it. So I think your work always evolved right with with time. so Definitely agree. Shaping Nation, your work is going to evolve
Evolving Pottery Style and Artistic Challenges
00:15:30
Speaker
over time. The more your skills grow, the better your work's going to be. And that's how you expand and grow your voice as well. I absolutely love that. Right. So you mentioned that you started with sculpting little things at first. Why did you start with little things instead of just jumping right into bigger things? Make it solid pieces. ah It wasn't until I took that workshop that really opened my eye to the possibility that you can really make
00:15:54
Speaker
bigger things hollow hollow you know hollow and it because of the weight right especially like when i attach something to my mugs the weight for me of of a piece is important i like to make especially with porcelain i like to make as thin and lightweight as possible i don't like heavy things could be just me, but in my mind, I want to make things that are like, especially if you're going to hold your mug, you know, I don't want something heavy. So nowadays I make everything hollow. So that that's how kind of evolved until I, it was just a knowledge thing. when When I knew watching videos, how people sculpt, you know, and then applying those techniques to what I wanted to do, and then
00:16:42
Speaker
make it a bigger scale pottery where I can be more detailed. you know i can For a bird, for example, I can carve the feathers. and For something little, it's really hard for you to put a lot of detail. As you grow your the scale of your sculpture, then it it's almost like become easier. The bigger it is, I think it's easier to put all the detail in there. And, and I guess I had people who were telling me that that was really good. And I, and I didn't know that, you know, you don't know what you don't know. Right. So that, that's it. Definitely agree. Especially with, cause I you also started out with small sculptures and I, and very recently started making larger sculptures. Definitely agree. It's much easier to get details on modern sculptures. Yeah, definitely. 100%. So something I love about your pottery is you don't just stick with one technique. You combine all sorts of techniques together. Tell me more about this. Well, i the way it evolved was you know when you're learning, like I said, I started with the small sculpture. I was always interested in different techniques. so and
00:17:56
Speaker
combining something that I really had the passion for. So I found that I really liked sculpture, but at the same time, I like functional pieces. So I wanted to combine the two. And then I also, before the sculpture, I also got into relief carving when I was doing porcelain. I was very inspired by other artists who worked in porcelain and that I wanted to make my work unique. like Combining what i the knowledge that I had and making it my own. And I think that's the key that I always tell people is when you're trying to find your voice is combining different things to make a piece that is make something a unique work instead of trying to make something that looks like somebody else's work. So I was inspired by Jennifer McCurdy. She makes all the altered porcelain
00:18:55
Speaker
And I learned that you can alter porcelain with her, just watching her videos. as I was fascinated. So I started trying that in a different way. She makes the very abstract stuff, but I was using her technique as you push and manipulate the porcelain to create, let's say you push it from the inside out to make your piece is a little bit more pronounced on the surface. And then I learned to carve. So you still having the thin piece, not adding too much weight to it. And then you carve. So I have an example here of this vase. So this is something that you push inside to make a little bit more volume. And then you start carving away.
00:19:47
Speaker
And not only that, you add in clay, a little bit of clay to create those layers, the create the volume, create layers. So this is the work I was doing before I was doing the sculpted pieces. so For example, I don't have too many pieces here. Now I have some in progress, but just to give you an example, this is all relief carved. So the porcelain shows the translucency. Like if I would put a light, it shows how translucent pottery is. But if I would do this nowadays, I probably would make the bird as a sculpture to be like in 3D in here.
00:20:30
Speaker
And then having all the rest that I still do as a carved background. So I think that's, I do like different techniques because of that. I'm always looking for, it it just evolves. I'm never going to stop doing this type of work, which is the sculptural with the carved pieces because I really like doing that but I also like to explore other techniques like for example ah this technique that I came across called Cuerda Seca
00:21:05
Speaker
ah which is a painting technique. And the translation is cuerta seca means dry rope. And it's an ancient technique from the 17th century. So it started out as ah in other countries, started out in Spain and Portugal. And what it is is you mixed, you mix an oil with oxide, like black iron oxide, to make your line work.
00:21:32
Speaker
And that is what they call the dry rope because it stays flat on the surface. And then the areas within those lines, you you flood with glaze. The key on that on that process is that the glaze has to be very stable because you're creating that really raised glaze, but it's okay. I have an example here. It's okay when you're firing as a tile, it's a lot easier.
00:21:59
Speaker
because it won't run. Now, even using a stable glaze, like I use stroke and coat, sometimes depending on the color, it can run slightly. so And then I start testing this technique on of on a vertical, like this little bud vase here. And you can see how colorful it is, but it's a real nice technique that I was just intrigued. And because I couldn't find that much information here in the US,
00:22:29
Speaker
I started testing on my own. big It was really hard in the beginning. that That was like maybe three or four years ago when I stumbled across this and and I had seen this a lot in Brazil and it's more common like in Europe maybe. but and And some people approach me and say, well, that looks like that technique that you carve the lines like Mishima.
00:22:54
Speaker
and apply the glaze, but it's not because it's hard to capture on ah on a video or picture unless you you you touch it. So it's a real nice, it leaves a real nice texture unless you have it to feel it. So I'm just intrigued with this technique. So now I do both. I like doing this type of work, but I also like doing doing the sculptural work. so just two different techniques that I'm using. I don't think there's nothing wrong with that, you know? I absolutely love that and definitely some excellent advice right there. So let's talk about the business side of
Transitioning to Full-Time Pottery
00:23:33
Speaker
pottery. Can you tell me about the moment when you decided to become a full-time potter? I was doing just that as part-time because
00:23:39
Speaker
My career wasn't pottery. I guess if I had found pottery when I was young, I think I had done, maybe that's what I would have done all my life, but I didn't know. So I've always liked design. Since my mother said since I was little, I used to design so that I took that path and I was one of the minority that know what you want to be. Like since I was young, you know, so that's the path I took and I loved it. So I did i did that for, gosh.
00:24:12
Speaker
35 plus years, so that was my career. But then five years ago, I decided I wanted to retire, but I was waiting to be eligible for my pension. I didn't want to lose a pension because even nowadays, not too many companies offer a pension. In fact, after I was hired This company, they ended that, so there was no more pension, so I was lucky to still get that. So anyways, I was waiting for that, and I was able to retire a little earlier than the average retirement age, you know? But I i wanted to pursue what I love, which is pottery, gardening, spend time with family, you know, that kind of thing. But like life is short, so that's the moment i I decided I wanted to just do this full time.
00:25:05
Speaker
What were you feeling when you finally became a full-time potter? Oh, it was great. It was the best decision I've ever made. And and like and I might be in a different situation as other potters that have that, for they do it for a living. I'm doing it more for the art and always trying to improve my work and really show, have have my pieces in galleries.
00:25:34
Speaker
I'm lucky enough to be able to sell my work, but I'm i'm by no means production potter. you know i Like I said before, I work on small batches at a time, but it was just a different situation, but I just love doing pottery. I i do it every day, but also because I'm my own boss. Some days if I don't feel like working, if I feel like gardening, I can do that. but Most of the time I do most of my work in the mornings you know I may not take all day working on pottery but I do it every day and that's definitely my full-time job.
Effective Social Media Strategies for Pottery
00:26:16
Speaker
So earlier you mentioned that in order to have success in pottery you have to be able to show off your pottery on social media. What are some ways that work for you to show off your own pottery? I guess
00:26:28
Speaker
It's like I said before, I know people don't like doing that self-promoting, but what I did is i I've chosen Instagram to be the platform for me to bring the customers to me. And then by doing that, I take them to my website is where I sell my stuff. but So what I usually do is post processes. Like i I share everything that I know, that I i share with others. In fact, i I share on YouTube, I do tutorials for free, you know, different on different techniques. So I like to share what I what i know.
00:27:10
Speaker
And, but not only that on Instagram is sharing a little bit here and there of your process because your customers are curious of how things work, how how you come about having a piece that comes to be a finished product. So I post all my processes and then i what I recommend is posting often. It could be Instagram, Facebook. I try to do as many as I can without being so overwhelming to me. So I usually do
00:27:45
Speaker
Instagram Facebook post you know that type of work. I also have customers coming from Facebook but that's the main one and then and then when I'm close to having the sale I start telling them like maybe the month before and say next month you know I plan on having a shop update and then post it again because your customers are not on, maybe they're not on Instagram every day. So you just have to remember that and and post often until you get close real close to your date and then send you know a MailChimp newsletter to you the people that are subscribers to your website. and But I think
00:28:30
Speaker
If I was young, I would really be posting everywhere. Sometimes it gets overwhelming to me, but I think the more you can put it out there, the better, you know, to be seen. Some excellent and advice like that right there. I absolutely love that. What advice would you give to someone that wants to have more success on their own work?
00:28:53
Speaker
I think it's what I just did, just said, is ah just just try to have your work out there. if I already said yeah social media is important, but not only that, if you if you really want to have your work out in other places, there are so many physical places that you can approach and One example that I'm even considering now is going to local coffee shops because I also like to make it just plain, I don't have one here, plain mugs and just play with glazes like using different glazes. I love that too. So I would like to have like some work that appeals also for at a lower
00:29:40
Speaker
range in price that can be available for more people, not not just collectors, pottery collectors. So you can approach a local coffee shop and ask the manager if they're interested on selling your work there. There there are so many venues like physical galleries or doing shows. you know I think that that's how you succeed because the more people looking at your work,
00:30:08
Speaker
There's also that word of mouth, right? They would tell their friends, their beautiful pottery they just got and that passes on. so But I would say social media is the first thing and then looking for other venues. Excellent advice right there. Let's talk about discovering your voice. Can you tell me about the moment when you knew you were heading in the right direction with your pottery? I think it was when I had people coming to me and telling me about my work because I have a lot of self doubts, you know, and I still do. At times, I may not think my work is good enough. And it's not until I hear from other people that are seeing me work and they and to me, like, let's say for sculpting, I can do it. It came to me very easily and may not be as easy for other people, but I always tell anybody can learn, right? There are differences or
00:31:08
Speaker
Some people come easy and some people not so much, but they just have to work a little harder and take a little longer. But I remember the time where I was catching something at a group that our pottery group that I had. And I'm able to look at ah at something online, which is what I use sometimes for inspiration. So if I, let's say I wanted to sculpt a frog or paint something on the surface, I just google a picture and then I just hand sketch. I don't need to
00:31:44
Speaker
Even trace it and a friend of mine was looking and I said, let me just put these out I was gonna do his graffiti painting and I just sketched real quick and I was looking at a picture and did it and It came out almost exactly the same, even the scale and everything of what was on the screen. And she just blew her mind and she was like, how can you do that? And i so in my mind, I thought anybody can do that. I thought it was something that it it wasn't anything special. i you know So I think it's when you hear people telling about your work,
00:32:25
Speaker
that you're saying, okay, that that might be something that is it is special, but I didn't know that. Just like with the sculpting, it comes right out to me without even, I haven't been doing sculpting for that long, you know, and it's just easier for me.
00:32:44
Speaker
But I do encourage when I do tutorials and I hear people saying, oh, my, let's say my frog, you know, I teach how to make a frog, for example. And they would say, oh, my frog is not coming out the same. You know, it's coming looking like something else. But it takes a little practice. You know, not everybody has that same ability.
00:33:06
Speaker
But that shouldn't take having people stop or give up on it. You know, I always tell people that I always encourage them to just keep trying. So I absolutely love that and definitely agree 100%. So you contribute growth as an artist to your career as a 3D CAD designer. Tell me more about this.
00:33:28
Speaker
So I think what I was just telling you, I think is from doing the 3D CAD design for so many years, I have trained my brain to learn to visualize things in 3D. So I can, if I'm going to sculpt something, i I usually like to analyze the anatomy, even like if it is a frog, because with frogs, there are so many different shapes of their body, like the the tropical,
00:33:58
Speaker
red-eyed tree frog, you know, they they're kind of skinny and long and the way they have their cartilage on their backs and so I look at all that. So I'm able to look at a picture and in my head I'm looking at that in 3D. I'm rotating so I think that's how it works and then it just comes out. One time I told a friend of mine that I think I am my own 3D printer. I think of something and it just comes out of my hands but I, that's what i I attribute that to the 3D doing 30 years of 3D design. It trains your brain, you know, even like for, let's say assembling things here in the house when we buy furniture, whatever it is, I can assemble that like they know in no time. Because even if the drawings usually are pretty bad, sometimes I don't even need to look at a drawing, but it comes with that.
00:34:56
Speaker
is, you know, and I think it is from the experience. So I think that's the advantage that I had. That's what I attribute it to. Absolutely love that. So now what advice would you give to someone who can discover their own unique voice with their pottery? I would say ah watch a lot of videos. YouTube is just, I used to say that I went to YouTube University for clay.
00:35:25
Speaker
because I don't have that as my, you know, I didn't go to school for that, but I learned so much in YouTube and as you know, you know, I i used to watch Tim C to to learn how to center, you know, I watched Bill Van Gilder.
00:35:42
Speaker
tons of these videos out there that teach people how to, you know, it may not be the same as being there physically, but you do learn a lot. So that's how I learned how to center. So I would say the first thing, there are three things I want to mention. The first thing would be watch a lot of videos on YouTube and then learn all these different techniques until you see something that sparks in your head that you really, really like.
00:36:11
Speaker
The second thing is you need to spend some money, but it would be attending workshops. So, because you're there physically with the with the teacher showing you how to do things, I think you can see a lot better when you're physically there. I've taken a ton of workshops, and to me, it help he helped me tremendously because with each workshop, even though it may not be the thing that I follow through, but there is always something, one thing or more that you're going to apply to what you do now, like to the rest of your career.
00:36:51
Speaker
as a potter. So one example is I took a workshop with Feng Xu. He's a teapot. He's a teapot guy. He gave so many tips during his workshop that I use and I always give him credit when I mention it. I think that's important too but he gave me so many tips that I use it today even on other things that I throw you know So that's the second thing. The third thing is going to conferences because you're also exposed to a lot of artists doing demonstrations and so you you meet people there. So I think that's important. So those are the three things that I i i would recommend.
00:37:34
Speaker
Absolutely love that. Some excellent advice with Shaping Nation.
Finding Your Unique Pottery Style
00:37:37
Speaker
If you want to discover your own unique voice, number one, keep on learning and keep learning until you find something that sparks interest. Number two, take workshops because that's how you're going to learn faster and better to see things in person. And three, go to conferences to connect with other potters and just get a wider view about pottery. Absolutely love that. And then until you you learn all these techniques, until you make something that you really like and make it your own, you know,
00:38:02
Speaker
It can be a combination of things and come up with something unique that not too many people are doing. I think that's important. Absolutely, Grissom. Excellent advice right there. Ana, it's been a great chat today. And as we come to a close here, what is one thing you want to hear from my listeners today?
00:38:20
Speaker
um I would say the the thing that we were talking about, about finding a voice is exploring new things. If you know, let's say if you know that you like painting. There are so many techniques, different techniques with underglazes, with different glazes like the one I just mentioned here. ah If that's the path that you want to, that you think you like, just start exploring a lot and then you you eventually are going to find what really what you like is finding your unique type of work.
00:38:58
Speaker
instead of trying to do something that, oh, this person is doing that, I would like to do that. And then it's the is the passion that you find when you when you know that something that sparks in your head, like that is something that is awesome. I want to pursue that. And It's okay to grab information from different artists and just make that your own like that's I think that's how you find your own voice absolutely agree a hundred percent Anna it's been great chance today. Where can my listeners go and learn more about you?
00:39:35
Speaker
on instagram is anna leo pottery and on and that's the same on youtube is annas clayhouse and i teach a lot of tutorials there and i'm always going to be doing that because i love to teach and facebook is also annas clayhouse annas and a with one end Hey, thanks for listening to this episode of Shaping Your Pottery with Nick Torres. If you are a hobby potter and looking to connect with more like-minded creatives, I have the thing just for you. I created a community called The Clay Games, where each month we do a fun monthly pottery challenge and we connect and help each other grow and to make our best pottery that we can make.
00:40:16
Speaker
If you would like to join the clay games community, go to shapeyourpottery.com forward slash community to join. I hope to see you in there and I can't wait to see your pottery again. Go to shapeyourpottery.com forward slash community to join the clay games community.