Shaping Your Pottery with Nic Torres Nic Torres

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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

Nic Torres discusses the impact of keeping a journal or sketchbook for pottery, detailing his personal experience with journaling and how it has facilitated his creative process. Initially resistant due to the time commitment, Nic found that replacing idle time with journaling helped him organize his tasks, set monthly goals, and brainstorm ideas to improve his pottery. He shares a specific breakthrough in his mug designs achieved through journaling, which led to the development of a more efficient method for creating mugs with sculptural elements. Torres concludes that while journaling may not be for everyone, it has significantly benefited his pottery practice and creativity. Additionally, he offers listeners access to 53 pottery themes to help find their unique voice in pottery.
Get your 53 themes by clicking this link shapingyourpottery.com/53themes
 

In this episode of 'Shaping Your Pottery,' host Nic Torres shares insights on how treating pottery like a regular nine to five job can dramatically improve your craft. The idea, inspired by a conversation with full-time potter Ron Philbeck, suggests setting a dedicated daily work schedule for pottery, whether it's the whole day or just a couple of hours. This routine helps build the habit of consistent practice, which is crucial for finding one's unique voice in pottery. Ron's method demonstrates that regardless of when you choose to work, the key is dedicating consistent, focused time to the craft every day. Nic emphasizes that this structured approach not only fosters discipline and productivity but also accelerates the journey towards developing a distinctive style in pottery.
Take this Free Quiz to see how close you are to finding your pottery voice click here to take the quiz shapingyourpottery.com/quiz