Gary's Third Pottery Blog

When the going gets tough, dragons gonna get going....

Gary's third pottery blog

WRITE TO ME! garyrith@yahoo.com Come see me! Open studio HERE! November 25-26 (11-4 each day); Aurora Art and Design, daily until 12/24; Cooperstown Art Assoc. daily until 12/24; Ellis Hollow Community Fair, 12/10; December 10, Little Red Wagon at the Space at Greenstar. All material on this blog unless stated otherwise is copyright Gary Edward Rith 2016

Sunday, March 14, 2010

le interview

Goofy Kim came up and me and the missus went down to Viva again Saturday for the tacos and whatnot--holy cats, tis good, and I love the hippo....





I am being interviewed by an Australian dude for some reason. I cannot remember what it is for. He is picking my brain with questions, and we are up to 11 so far. here are my answers, which tell a lot about me I s'pose...

1. I went to college to study painting but was wandering campus before signing up for classes. I saw somebody working in the ceramics studio on the wheel, and a kiln being unloaded. I had never seen that before and was hooked! The sight of a blob of clay on a wheel rising up into a pot is very improbable and exciting. And the feeling that its Christmas and you have presents to open when the door comes off the kiln, yay!
As for business, I was working as a teacher full-time (high school reading and writing skills) and pottery on the side and really wanted to make pots full time. My wife told me to go for it! And I did.
2. Early problems in business? There were not any. Only just getting used to working at home. If you are accustomed to leaving the house and working on sombody else's schedule, you have to ostop feeling guilty for messing around the house. I have very consistent work habits though, and am usually well organized and form a list each day and work on it :)
3. Key things??? Luckily with pottery, you are making a useful item, which is not like a painting: people can use your item every day. But I think the key thing for me is make EXACTLY what I want, the best expression of me, which is bright and fun work.
4. When I started I went out nearly every week to a craft or art fair. Now I use the internet to meet customers. Things like FB are awesome for marketing. Marketing is ENTIRELY different now from the 1990s. I think some older artists don't get how to use the internet for sales, but it now represents half of my business.
5. I think this is a tough time economically to start in business as a potter. I started full time in the 90s which was very easy. I would say nowadays become a plumber instead ;^)

(he saw my answer there and said Australian studio potters feel like they are going extinct)

I don't know if becoming a studio potter is in danger of extinction in the US, but it is hard for a single individual---you need health insurance, and a place to make pots, and it is a very special and hard driving person who could get that started now, compared to 10-15 years ago when the economy was so good for sales.

6. The only challenge I face is keeping organized. I feel like an octopus balancing orders and keeping everything straight. I am lucky because my wife is a bookeeper and it is tax season in the US so she can handle the most difficult part of being a potter---MONEY.
7. Resolve? Cramming my filofax with lists and trying to work on those lists :)
8. My marketing activities are zen like. Make it and they will come. I am like the peach tree. The peach tree makes the best peach it can and after that a squirrel may come and take it or a person will come along and eat it....
sounds like I am a flake (I am) but its true.
9. I worked as apprentice in the 1980s to a very hard working and well established potter. If you bought his dishes then you could go back today to buy a perfect matching replacement. He is totally hard working and productive. But he has a whole bunch of kids to support, and I like to make one of a kind pieces, so I would say I learned business and work habits from him.
10. My specialty items include pigs and teapots. I make a LOT of teapots. Pretty much the only thing I am in the mood for in 2010. I want to make little gems that are teapots...
11. I don't have anything to suggest. I have no idea. I guess I am pretty lost in my own thoughts and ideas. I am an instructor at Cornell University's Ceramics studio, and I like gossiping with other potters there and we all learn from each other, otherwise I am working by myself in the home studio :)

Dig Charlotte....

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

amigo... great interview, if it was an interview. going international. looks like i missed the fun again at the chapterhouse. sofia likes the pic of you with your head in the hippo's mouth. been off the grid a bit trying to cram for the upcoming show. videos of penny with the sock monkey on her back are hilarious.

Anna M. Branner said...

Good answers. Learned alot about your serious (!?) side!

Michèle Hastings said...

i like and agree with number 8!

Kimberly said...

Your cups and teapots are fun to drink herb tea out of. I love my little doggy mug and use it when I have a nice cuppa camomille tea in the evenings. The combination is very soothing..

DirtKicker Pottery said...

Cute pics of you and your Lady :) The interview is very good. It's "real".

ang design said...

no extinction here...i'm still chipping away...great overview of a long career G man..keep those teapots coming!

Cheryl said...

And I imagine having a wonderful and supportive wife is a big help! Oh and of course the pets as well to keep you company.

Reverend Awesome said...

Gary, you are a delight. This is a fantastic interview. Maude freaking rules so hard!

denis said...

i don't know who is more goofier...you or kim. but it doesn't matter because i love you both.

Anonymous said...

There were a dozen women at my house on Saturday morning for breakfast and they were all commenting happily on your wonderful mugs! :)
Yes, we did go through 3 pots of coffee and a quite a few cups of tea.

The pic of the hippo eating your head made me laugh! And SnakeMaster is going to think that Maude is holding that snake up just for him! :)

Nicki said...

Viva! One of my fav places to go.

Great interview.

Jenn @ Juggling Life said...

Now why didn't you submit a "Making Your Own Destiny" piece over at the WC? 'Cause you totally did. Make your own.

Top pottery blog 2015

2014 winner

Me and Missus Tastycakes

Me and Missus Tastycakes

garyrith.com

ME, the TV interview :)

my etsy gallery

my second blog, 2008-2009

my first blog, 2006-2008

Followers

Blog Archive

About Me

My photo
I am a full-time studio potter, sculptor, and dog walker, married to superhawt Missus Tastycake.