359 episodes

Discovering your unique voice in pottery can be very difficult if you do it alone. That is why The Shaping Your Pottery podcast was made to help potters like yourself to help you find your voice, standout from the crowd, and help you enjoy making pottery

Shaping Your Pottery with Nic Torres Nic Torres

    • Arts
    • 4.7 • 13 Ratings

Discovering your unique voice in pottery can be very difficult if you do it alone. That is why The Shaping Your Pottery podcast was made to help potters like yourself to help you find your voice, standout from the crowd, and help you enjoy making pottery

    #358 Cosmic Clay: A Journey Through Pottery with Luke Bonecutter

    #358 Cosmic Clay: A Journey Through Pottery with Luke Bonecutter

    This episode features Luke Bonecutter, a potter inspired by space and retrofuturism, who shares his journey from struggling with wheel throwing in high school to finding his unique voice in pottery. Luke discusses the transition from working with drippy glazes to embracing underglazes and brighter colors, inspired by his interest in maximalism and the aesthetics of space. He credits his growth to the supportive community of ceramic artists, critical evaluation of art, and the process of experimentation. Listeners will learn the importance of staying true to personal interests, the evolution of creative styles, and the value of social media in growing a pottery business. Luke emphasizes the significance of making work that is personally fulfilling to avoid burnout and achieve confidence in one's artistry. You can learn more about Luke by checking out his Instagram @cosmic.clay
    Get your 53 themes by clicking this link shapingyourpottery.com/53themes
    00:00 Introduction to Luke Bone Cutter: The Space-Inspired Potter
    01:25 Discovering Pottery: Luke's Journey from High School to Passion
    03:03 The Evolution of Luke's Pottery Style: From Minimalism to Maximalism
    05:47 The Birth of Bright Colored Pottery: An Accidental Discovery
    06:47 Space and Retrofuturism: The Core Inspirations Behind Luke's Creations
    08:29 Experimenting with New Forms: The Story of the UFO Mug
    10:09 Embracing Maximalism: Luke's Philosophy on Pottery Design
    12:08 The Business Side of Pottery: Going Full-Time and Leveraging Social Media
    16:09 Finding Your Voice: Luke's Advice on Discovering Your Unique Pottery Style
    21:47 Conclusion: Final Thoughts and Where to Find Luke Online

    • 23 min
    #357 Feral Maximalism: The Pottery Journey of Casey Stelter

    #357 Feral Maximalism: The Pottery Journey of Casey Stelter

    In this episode of 'Shaping Your Pottery' featuring Casey Stelter, a potter known for her work tailored to the 'feral maximalist', listeners get valuable insights into finding one's passion and voice in pottery. Casey shares her journey from exploring pottery as a hobby with her husband to committing full-time to her craft amidst the challenges of a physical job and moving states. She emphasizes the importance of making work you love, particularly highlighting her transition from wheel throwing to slip casting to focus on decoration due to physical constraints. Casey underlines the pivotal role of community in growth and navigating the pottery business, recounting the supportive networks in Denver and online that have contributed to her success. This episode also delves into Casey's approach to breaking conventional pottery rules, her creative processes, and the significance of creating a local and online presence for business growth. Casey's story is a testament to the importance of perseverance, authentic self-expression, and community support in crafting a fulfilling pottery career. You can learn more about Casey by checking out her instagram @shewolfstudios
    Take this Free Quiz to see how close you are to finding your pottery voice click here to take the quiz shapingyourpottery.com/quiz 
    00:00 Introduction to Casey Stelter and Her Pottery Journey
    01:06 The Importance of Community in Pottery
    02:29 Casey's Personal Journey into Pottery
    03:08 Overcoming Frustration and Taking Breaks
    04:51 The Evolution of Casey's Pottery Style
    06:25 The Concept of Feral Maximalism
    11:15 The Business Side of Pottery
    16:16 Discovering Your Unique Voice in Pottery
    20:54 Final Thoughts and Advice for Aspiring Potters

    • 22 min
    #356 Crafting Critique: The Power of External Feedback

    #356 Crafting Critique: The Power of External Feedback

    In this episode of Shaping Your Pottery, host Nic Torres emphasizes the importance of seeking and embracing external feedback for pottery improvement. He discusses how feedback can come from various sources such as family, friends, social media, or fellow potters. Despite the possibility of encountering negative comments, Nic encourages potters to extract valuable insights from criticism to enhance their craft. He shares personal strategies for obtaining constructive feedback, including directly reaching out to other potters via social media to request their input on specific pieces. Moreover, Nic highlights how feedback can provide direction, inspire better work, and prevent creative burnout. He also introduces a resource offering 53 pottery themes to help potters find their unique voice and signature style, available on the Shaping Your Pottery website. 
    Get your 53 themes by clicking this link shapingyourpottery.com/53themes

    • 4 min
    #355 Connecting Through Clay: Customer Relationships in Pottery

    #355 Connecting Through Clay: Customer Relationships in Pottery

    In this episode of 'Shaping Your Pottery' hosted by Nic Torres, the focus is on the vital importance of caring for your customers in the pottery business. The discussion emphasizes how engaging with and valuing customer feedback has been instrumental for Teri in selling her pottery and guiding the direction of her work. Teri exemplifies this by actively soliciting feedback from her audience through polls on Instagram, such as which color glazes to use, allowing customers to feel involved in the creation process. This customer-centric approach is presented as a method to enhance the connection between the potter, the pottery, and the user. The episode argues that while it's paramount to care for your customers' preferences, finding a balance with personal enjoyment in pottery making is essential. Engaging with customers not only provides valuable outside feedback but also fosters a sense of inclusion, making them part of the pottery's journey from creation to final product.
    Send Nic a Voicemail by clicking here https://www.speakpipe.com/ShapingYourPottery
     

    • 3 min
    #354 Why you should learn to articulate your thoughts about your pottery

    #354 Why you should learn to articulate your thoughts about your pottery

    In this episode, Nic discusses the significance of articulating your thoughts and preferences concerning pottery, drawing on insights from an interview with Luke Bone Cutter. Nic explains that understanding and expressing why you like certain aspects of pottery, whether it's colors, shapes, or techniques, can not only deepen your appreciation of others' work but also refine your own craft. He encourages listeners to examine a favored piece of their own work, dive deep into understanding their preferences, and apply the same critical thought to others' pottery. This practice, Nic argues, can help potters develop a clearer voice and vision in their work. Additionally, Nic offers resources for listeners struggling to find a unique theme for their pottery, directing them to a website offering 53 potential themes to inspire their work. 
    Get your 53 themes by clicking this link shapingyourpottery.com/53themes
     

    • 3 min
    #353 From Ballet To Pottery The Journey Of Kym Owens

    #353 From Ballet To Pottery The Journey Of Kym Owens

    In this episode of 'Shaping Your Pottery', potter Kym Owens shares her personal journey from ballet dancer to becoming a successful potter, offering advice for aspiring artists on perseverance, mentorship, and creativity. Kim discusses the importance of embracing failure, seeking mentorships, and engaging with the pottery community, whether locally or online. She emphasizes the necessity of dedicating oneself wholly to art, the benefits of repetition and organization in her work, and finding one's unique voice in pottery. Kim also highlights practical aspects of pottery, such as pricing and the business side, and encourages artists to be patient and persistent in their creative pursuits. You can learn more about Kym by checking out her instagram @kopottery and checking out her work at these places The Companion Gallery- The Barn Gallery - Artful Home -Feats of Clay
    The Questions we ask will determine how our pottery will look like that's why I created a Free 15 questions to help you discover your voice template go grab it here www.shapingyourpottery.com/questions
     

    • 39 min

Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5
13 Ratings

13 Ratings

PS Nichols ,

New listener

I’m excited that I found this podcast. I love the theme and I’m excited to hear more episodes. Thanks for creating this content!

Aliveguy Pottery ,

Fantastic Episode, I can so relate…

Loved this episode and can relate to how Juliette does so many things. I’m the same way, I like to explore everything clay! The interview was done very well and there was a lot packed into this one.
@aliveguy_pottery

g wiz golly ,

This podcast helps stretch you creatively…and find your “voice” in your work.

I’m 25+ years removed from pottery, but recently dusted off my wheel and am currently searching for my “voice”. My regular job has me in the car for several hours a week so I listen to a lot of podcasts. Shaping your Pottery is very thought provoking and I find that it has me thinking about my work and stretching me creatively. Love it!! Thanks, Nic for all you do!!

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