in this episode of 'Shaping Your Pottery,' the host discusses the invaluable insights gained from interviewing sculptors, emphasizing how their unconventional techniques and multidimensional thinking can significantly enhance pottery skills. The host explains the innovative approach sculptors take, such as creating a piece fully before hollowing it…

In this episode of AP Pottery, host Nic Torres speaks with Peyton Lawler, a passionate ceramic artist, about her journey in the world of pottery. Peyton discusses the importance of curiosity and exploration in the craft, the significance of staying open-minded, and the value of creating a large quantity of work to refine one's skills. She shares he…

The Episode discusses the common mistake of potters trying to conform with others instead of finding their own unique voice in pottery. It emphasizes the importance of staying true to oneself, making what one enjoys, and stepping out of the comfort zone to create authentic pottery art. On May 31st I am doing an workshop with Guest Artist Mike Cerv …

This episode discusses the importance of deep focused work in pottery making to enhance skills and creativity. It provides tips on building the habit of consistent studio time, setting timers for deep work focus, and utilizing conducive environments like residencies for optimal results. On May 31st I am doing an workshop with Guest Artist Mike Cerv…

In this episode, we delve into the life and insights of award-winning sculptor Tessa Eastman. Tessa shares her experiences transitioning from pottery to sculpture, the significance of teaching in her artistic journey, and the influence of nature and the natural world on her work. She discusses the impact of awards on her career, particularly her fi…

This episode features a deep dive into the artistic journey of Allyson George, a potter who initially dreamed of becoming an animator. Allyson shares the lightbulb moment when she realized pottery was her true calling. She discusses her creative process, challenges in finding her unique voice, and the importance of a supportive community. Her work …

In this episode, Nic Torres emphasizes the necessity of sticking with one pottery technique long enough to fully develop skills and exhaust all creative ideas before moving on. He addresses the common issue of boredom and suggests maintaining excitement by altering themes within the same technique, using personal anecdotes like his shift from creat…

This clip from my interview with Adrienne Eliades, Adrienne talks the journey of finding one's unique voice in pottery, emphasizing the importance of reflecting on techniques, avoiding direct imitation, and gradually developing a personal style. It touches on the role of mimicking others' work as a learning tool and highlights the significance of n…

In this comprehensive conversation, Adrienne Eliades shares insights from her 20-plus years in pottery, emphasizing the importance of viewing the artistic process as a journey rather than aiming for a fixed destination. Through reflections on personal growth, embracing failure, and the significance of community, Adrian reveals how facing challenges…

The episode includes valuable advice from an interview with Bethany Crow on starting in sculpture. Bethany emphasizes starting with an idea, utilizing tools like the pottery wheel creatively to make non-functional pieces, pivoting to new processes if necessary, and looking at other artists for inspiration. The episode encapsulates these insights in…

The Importance of Play in Pottery This episode discusses the significance of allowing oneself the freedom to play and experiment with clay in pottery. Nic Torres, emphasizes how crucial it is for potters to give themselves permission to fail and try new techniques beyond their routine practices. He points out that sticking to the same methods can l…

In this episode of 'Shaping Your Pottery with Nic Torres,' the journey of a potter is explored through the different stages of skill development, from the initial 'crappy' stage to the discovery of a personal style. Nic discusses how patterns and preferences begin to emerge as one experiments with pottery, using his own transition from raku firings…

This podcast episode features an interview with sculptor Bethany Krull, who shares her journey from pottery to sculpture, emphasizing the importance of finding one's passion and unique voice in art. Bethany discusses the transition from using pottery wheels for functional pottery to utilizing them as a tool for creating sculptural works, reflecting…

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…

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 …

Join The Shaping Your Pottery Newsletter By Clicking This Link shapingyourpottery.com/newsletter 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 pro…

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…

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 …

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 me…

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 t…

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 …

This episode features an in-depth conversation with Kim Canfield, a potter renowned for her baby face mugs among other pottery works. Kim shares her journey from intending to pursue exercise science and PT to discovering her passion for pottery and ceramics due to sports-related injuries. Working in children’s hospitals influenced her profoundly, i…

This episode features an enlightening conversation with Ron Philbeck, a renowned potter known for his quirky and illustrated pottery. Ron shares his journey into pottery, beginning from his post-college years to becoming a full-time potter. He highlights the importance of routine, passion, and authenticity in his practice, emphasizing how treating …

In this episode of 'Shaping Your Pottery with Nic Torres', Nic shares his personal experience with his first mug sale, which resulted in zero sales, leading to disappointment and frustration. However, Nic views this as a valuable learning opportunity, advocating for a positive mindset towards failure. He suggests that failure to sell can be attribu…

In this insightful episode, our guest is Ana Shioshita, a multifaceted artist who balances her job in the film industry with her passion for pottery. Ana discusses her journey in pottery, starting from childhood experiences to her current work, emphasizing her love for making 'drippy' vases. She shares how working across different mediums and skill…

This episode of 'Shape Your Pottery' features an in-depth conversation with Eva Funderburgh, an exceptional pottery artist known for her unique sculpture creatures. Host Nic Torres explores Eva's journey from her earliest encounters with pottery in school to her decision to pursue art over science, leading to the development of her distinctive scul…

The importance of doing small alterations repeatedly to discover one's unique voice in pottery. Instead of striving for grand, extravagant changes, the speaker advises potters to focus on tiny adjustments, such as altering the shape of a pot or the design of a handle, to create something individualistic. The episode challenges listeners to reflect …

This Episode features an interview with Sonita Cannon who shares her journey from a high school art class discovery of ceramics to becoming a full-time potter with her own home studio and unique voice in the craft. Throughout the conversation, the importance of supportive people, from teachers to peers and family, is highlighted as a critical compo…

This Episode features an interview with potter Don Ricardo, who shares insights into his pottery journey, emphasizing experimentation, fun, and the essence of enjoying the process over commercial success. He reveals how he started pottery to create specific containers for his plants and how this led to a broader appreciation for his unique creation…

In this episode, Nic Torres delves into the significance of revisiting old ideas to enhance pottery skills and find one's unique voice. He cites an interview with Eva Funderburgh, who emphasized the benefits of repetition and returning to past ideas. Funderburgh shares an anecdote from her first show in Switzerland, where struggling for new ideas l…

This episode features a deep dive into the life and creative process of Meredith Skyer, a potter who finds inspiration in exploring various art mediums and incorporates them into her pottery. Meredith discusses her lifelong fascination with creatures not of this world and how it influences her work, leading her to create pottery that blends functio…

Join The Shaping Your Pottery Newsletter And Get Weekly Pottery Tips shapingyourpottery.com/newsletter In this episode of 'Shaping Your Pottery,' host Nic Torres has an in-depth conversation with Potter Terri Erasmus. Terri shares her journey into pottery, emphasizing the importance of starting without waiting for perfect conditions, embracing cust…

In this episode of 'Shaping Your Pottery with Nic Torres,' the significance of seeking outside feedback for pottery is discussed. Nic shares a story about his friend, Sarah Connor, who faced challenges with her pottery endeavors, highlighting how external opinions helped her reassess and improve her work. Nic emphasizes the value of feedback in ide…

In this episode of 'Shaping Your Pottery with Nic Torres', explore ways to regain your motivation for pottery when you're feeling disconnected from your studio. Acknowledging the commonality of such phases, Nic shares personal experiences and tips from Annie Christbergs about overcoming the lack of desire to create. Key advice includes allowing you…

In this episode, the host Nic Torres delves into the thoughtful process of selecting personalized pottery gifts for those we admire, inspired by the concept of impactful interactions as mentioned in Tim Ferriss's 'Tools of Titans'. The discussion emphasizes the importance of considering the preferences and experiences of others while creating potte…

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 act…

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 ot…

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…

In this episode of 'Shaping Your Pottery,' host Nic Torres interviews Leigh Weinberg, a potter inspired by children's books, who shares her journey of finding her unique voice in pottery. Lee discusses the evolution of her pottery skills, the importance of being authentic, and her unconventional methods of selling pottery. She emphasizes the role o…

In this podcast episode, host Nic Torres discusses how he incorporated five different pottery techniques into his own work. He emphasizes the importance of observing other people's pottery, but adapting and shaping them based on personal preferences rather than blindly copying them. He uses the examples of sculpting and underglazing techniques he a…

In this episode of 'Shaping Your Pottery', host Nic Torres shares insights gleaned from his interview with prominent Potter, Casey Stelter. Casey enjoys slip casting because it allows her to focus more on the design and finishing aspects of pottery, which she finds most exciting. Using her experience, Nic suggests that in order to make pottery more…

Developing and Trusting Your Instincts in Pottery In this episode, Nic Torres discusses the importance of trusting one's instincts, especially in pottery. He shares personal anecdotes and examples to illustrate his points, highlighting a particular instance where going against his instincts led to a piece breaking. He emphasizes that gut feelings a…

An Interview with Corey Dewitt In this episode of 'Shaping Your Pottery', host Nic Torres hosts Corey Dewitt, a Potter known for his fantasy-inspired Tiki mugs. Throughout the conversation, Corey highlights the importance of community in his ceramics journey, discusses his inspirations, and explains the reasoning behind his pre-order sales approach…

In this engaging episode, potter Nicola Moore (also known as Nic) shares her journey in the craft, along with the keys to developing one's unique style. She highlights her love of making pottery, experiments in microwave firing, and her decision to go full-time with her passion. Showing her keen interest in various painting styles and glaze types, …

Nic Torres highlights the importance of breaking away from routine to foster creativity in pottery making. He shares an anecdote of Nicole Dacey, who found inspiration after a trip to Joshua Tree during COVID-19 lockdown. Torres stresses the importance of taking breaks from normal everyday stuff to allow new ideas to flow and avoid getting stuck in…

In this episode, Nic Torres shares three essential factors to consider in developing a unique 'pottery voice'. The first is making time to regularly work in the studio, which is deemed as nearly half the journey. The second is focusing on shapes, which can introduce a wide variety of ideas for personal pottery expressions. To do this, Nic recommend…

five places where potters can connect with each other, including markets, events, workshops, communities, and social media. Each location provides opportunities for potters to meet, network, and learn from others within the pottery community. 00:00 Introduction: Connecting with Other Potters 00:21 Place 1: Markets 00:57 Place 2: Events 02:05 Place …