Shaping Your Pottery with Nic Torres Nic Torres

In this episode of 'Shaping Your Pottery,' host Nic Torres emphasizes that potters don't need to create extravagant pieces to find their unique voice in pottery. He encourages artists to pursue what excites them, even if it's simple pottery, and to ignore outside opinions about how they should modify their work. Nic suggests seeking feedback from a variety of sources, including other potters and loved ones, to determine if you're on the right path but stresses the importance of listening to your own feelings of excitement and satisfaction as the true indicator. The episode concludes with an offer for listeners to access 53 themes to help them find a theme for their pottery, aiming to assist potters in defining their work and becoming known for something specific.
Get your 53 themes by clicking this link shapingyourpottery.com/53themes
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In this episode, Nic Torres shares his experiences after two weeks of replacing social media scrolling with journaling, focusing on pottery and personal growth. He discusses how using a pocket notebook without a structured approach has helped him jot down random thoughts, pottery ideas, feelings, and goals. Nic highlights how this practice has not only fostered creativity but also kept him on track with his goals by allowing him more time to think and generate new ideas. He suggests that journaling could be beneficial for others looking to improve their focus and creativity. Additionally, Nic offers a free 15-question booklet to help listeners discover their unique pottery voice.
go grab it here www.shapingyourpottery.com/questions
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This episode features an intimate conversation with Lucy Be Phillips, a potter known for her slip-decorated teapots and unique ceramic pieces. Lucy shares her journey from studying sculpture and feeling unfulfilled by conceptual art to discovering a profound connection with pottery. Early fears of surface decoration led to years of focus on form and function until her experiences, particularly an influential stint in Italy and an introspective period while decorating her tiny house, encouraged her to experiment with color and design. Lucy discusses the discipline learned from various pottery practices, including wood firing and apprenticeships, and how these experiences shaped her approach and technique. Teaching pottery has allowed Lucy to reflect on her process and learn from students, underscoring the importance of embracing one's unique voice. She highlights the significance of patience in selling one's work, finding the right market, and the transformative power of recognizing and pursuing one's true artistic direction. Lucy’s story is a testament to the idea that the journey of a potter is long, filled with learning, personal growth, and the continuous discovery of one's voice within the craft. You can learn more about Lucy by checking out her Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lucy_be.ceramics/
00:00 Welcome to Shaping Your Pottery: The Journey Begins
00:14 Discovering Pottery: Lucy B Phillips' Story
00:24 Overcoming Fear: The Art of Surface Decoration
03:50 From Mud Australia to Italian Mastery: A Potter's Evolution
10:42 Embracing Whimsy: The Creative Process Unveiled
15:43 The Business of Pottery: Making a Living from Your Craft
17:14 Teaching Pottery: Sharing Knowledge and Finding Joy
20:32 Finding Your Voice: The Path to Unique Pottery
27:48 Final Thoughts: Embracing the Pottery Journey

The Episode explores the concept of finding one's unique voice in pottery and emphasizes that the key difference between those who have found their pottery voice and those who haven't lies in belief and confidence. The Host, Nic Torres, challenges the notion that the quality of one's pottery determines their voice. Instead, he argues that belief in one's own style, theme, and direction is what defines their voice, regardless of the pottery's appearance. Nick offers advice on developing confidence in one's pottery work by creating a large quantity of work, seeking inspiration from other potters, and trusting one's instincts. The script concludes with an invitation to take a short quiz designed to help potters assess how close they are to discovering their unique voice.
Take this Free Quiz to see how close you are to finding your pottery voice click here to take the quiz shapingyourpottery.com/quiz
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In this episode of Shaping Your Pottery, host Nic Torres talks about the importance of giving yourself permission to make the pottery you truly want. Highlighting an interview with Ron Philbeck, who embraced his unique style by allowing himself to create quirky, illustrated pottery, Nick encourages listeners to overcome limitations and explore new techniques. By sharing his own journey from wheel throwing to incorporating sculpting into his work, Nick illustrates how experimenting and not confining oneself to the expectations of others can lead to finding one's own pottery voice. He concludes with an invitation to access 53 pottery themes for inspiration on his website, shapingyourpottery.com.
Get your 53 themes by clicking this link shapingyourpottery.com/53themes
 

This episode features an in-depth conversation with Oscar Yaquian, a potter known for his monster-themed pottery. Oscar discusses his journey from sculpting in childhood to embracing ceramics in high school, and how various techniques keep his work exciting. He shares insights on starting with a basic form before adding details, utilizing social media for promotion, and the transition to becoming a full-time potter. Oscar emphasizes the importance of enjoying the process, constantly creating, and finding a unique style. The discussion covers technical advice on pottery, leveraging social media for business growth, and personal reflections on finding one's voice in art. You can learn more about Oscar by checking out his instagram here https://www.instagram.com/oscaryaquian/
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00:00 Meet Oscar: The Potter with a Passion for Monster Pottery
00:13 Exploring Oscar's Creative Process and Techniques
01:31 The Evolution of Oscar's Pottery: From Childhood to Monster Mugs
03:52 Mastering Pottery: Oscar's Journey Through Education and Techniques
05:44 The Birth of Monster Pottery: Finding a Unique Style
13:56 From Hobby to Full-Time Potter: Oscar's Business Journey
16:53 Leveraging Social Media for Pottery Success
20:28 Advice for Aspiring Potters: Selling, Technique, and Finding Your Voice
26:08 Final Thoughts and Where to Find Oscar