Brian Nettles is a potter and educator based in Pass Christian, MS, an area that was hit hard by a 35-foot storm surge during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. We start our interview talking about the history of ceramics in southern Mississippi and the influence of bayous and cypress swamps on his aesthetic. The second part of the interview focuses on his…

Welcome to "The Pin Tool Podcast," where art and life intersect. I’m your host, Alford Wayman of Creek Road Pottery LLC. This episode explores the challenges of organizing a Holiday Trail with other small businesses and how the Creek Road Pottery Christmas show went. Website: https://creekroadpottery.com The Pottery Dailies: https://creekroadpotter…

In this episode of 'Shaping Your Pottery,' host Nic Torres interviews Jessica Sanford, a seasoned potter with 25 years of experience. Jessica shares her unique perspectives on commonly held beliefs in the pottery world, especially regarding beginners and the emphasis on production. She recounts her journey into pottery, from high school classes to …

Sarah Wells Rolland founded the Village Potters in the River Arts District of Asheville, NC in 2011. The art center housed a community of seven resident potters, as well as dozens of students through their classes and mentorship program. In late September Hurricane Helene turned the French Broad into a raging river that destroyed the Village Potter…

nicole gugliotti joins me on the show today to talk about her path to financial literacy and methods she uses to save for retirement. In our interview we talk about budgeting basics, types of retirement accounts, and the value of having short terms goals to help stay motivated. We also talk about her art practice and living in the Pacific Northwest…

In this episode, Nic Torres shares a personal anecdote about being kept awake by loud rain and a dripping sound, leading to random thoughts and ponderings about water and the scientific method. He then ties this to pottery, explaining how the scientific method can be applied to pottery by creating and testing hypotheses to find what works best. He …

Michelle Im uses low-fire tin glaze to make both vibrant patterned pottery and figurative sculpture. In our interview we talk about her approach and technique for majolica, developing her RatxChicks brand, and her portrayal of familial identity in her sculptural work. You can read more about Michelle in my book The Complete Guide to Low-Fire Glazes…

In this episode of 'Shaping Your Pottery,' host Nic Torres interviews Anna Shipulina, a mother, immigrant, and artist. Anna shares her experience of how embracing freedom in her pottery practice has helped her grow as an artist. She discusses the importance of doing what you love to avoid burnout and the significance of intuitive building. Anna als…

In this episode you will the importance of revisiting old skills to find new inspiration and address weaknesses in your pottery practice. He shares his personal experience with gymnastics-related exercises to illustrate how returning to basics can reveal areas for improvement and generate fresh ideas. Nick encourages potters to explore previous tec…

Greg Daly is a master of the luster genre using a reduction kiln to create rich surfaces that depict the Australian landscape. In our interview we talk about how subtle differences in reduction affect luster surfaces, teaching as an act of problem solving, and why collecting other artists work has been important to his development. Greg has had ove…

In this episode of Shaping Your Pottery, host Nic Torres interviews Jessie Marinacci Valone about the transformative power of slowing down in pottery. Jessie shares her journey from graphic design to pottery, the importance of experimenting in the studio, and the benefits of surrounding yourself with other artists. She discusses her experiences at …

Sunshine Cobb returns to talk about her new role as resident coordinator at the Archie Bray Foundation. In the interview we talk about how shifts in a residency structure can create equity and opportunity, as well as how residents find financial stability as the cost of living is increasing post-COVID. This year’s Bray residency application deadlin…

Welcome to "The Pin Tool Podcast," where art and life intersect. I’m your host, Alford Wayman of Creek Road Pottery LLC. In this episode, we explore the challenges of staying focused amid distractions, the importance of taking responsibility for both successes and failures, and the need for empathy and collaboration, especially in shared creative a…

Priscilla Dobler Dzul and Corinna Cowles were both residents at the Archie Bray Foundation this summer. In our interview we talk about their current bodies of work and their experience at the Bray. Corinna Cowles is based in Philadelphia, PA and Priscilla Dobler Dzul splits time between Washington state and Mexico. This year’s Bray residency applic…

In this episode, Nic Torres interviews Maria Loram, an expert in adding textures to pottery. Maria shares her journey of rediscovering art through ceramics, her inspiration from Japanese ceramics and the cosmos, and her transformative experience at the Cub Creek Residency. The episode delves into her passion for spherical and textured vases, the pr…

In this episode, Nic Torres discusses the significance of spending sufficient time experimenting with different pottery techniques before moving on to new projects. He emphasizes that continuous experimentation helps build confidence, improve skills, and achieve mastery in pottery. Nic also addresses the common tendency to quickly switch between id…

Welcome to "The Pin Tool Podcast," where art and life intersect. I’m your host, Alford Wayman of Creek Road Pottery LLC. Today, we talk about my Fall show 2024, what went right, and what I may need to work on. I then read one of my posts on the Pottery Dailies. Generosity and Pricing: No One Owes You Anything https://thepotterydailies.substack.com/…

In this episode of Shaping Your Pottery Catie North shares her transition from watercolor to pottery, revealing how underglaze techniques can mimic watercolor effects. The conversation covers the intersection of pottery with anime and video game inspirations, and the challenges of creating vibrant, neon-colored glazes. Listeners will learn practica…

Bill Wilkey fires his geometric forms in a soda atmosphere that exposes and softens their textured edges. In this week’s interview we talk about his mind-blowing experience visiting Brunelesschi’s Dome, the impact his Archie Bray residency had on his career, and starting a life in Helena, MT with his family. www.wilkeyarts.com. This interview is th…

Malene Barnett returns for an interview about her new book Crafted Kinship: Inside the Creative Practice of Contemporary Black Caribbean Makers. In our interview we talk about Black cultural memory, her process for interviewing and building an archive of Caribbean artists, and the influence of Caribbean material culture around the world. The book w…

In this episode of 'Shaping Your Pottery,' host Nic Torres interviews artist Meaghan Gates, who shares her journey of becoming an artist and her insights on what it means to embrace failure in the world of pottery. Meaghan discusses her widespread experiences from her early exposure to pottery as a child to her academic and professional growth. She…

Welcome to "The Pin Tool Podcast," where art and life intersect. I’m your host, Alford Wayman of Creek Road Pottery LLC. Today, we talk about a quiet moment of connection at a rainy Sunday market, capturing the value of showing up, even when the weather and conditions aren’t ideal. Through a chance encounter with a single customer, meaningful excha…

Today we have the final installment of our series about student loans with an episode featuring Liz Noonan and Christian Bailey. They share their experience dealing with fluctuating payments, managing debt as a family, and the ups and downs of loan forgiveness. Liz is a studio artist in Boxborough, MA. Christian is a artist and educator in Gulfport…

In this episode of 'Shaping Your Pottery', Nic Torres explores how to find and cultivate your unique pottery identity, regardless of your experience level. He highlights the importance of identifying personal likes and dislikes, both in and out of pottery, by advocating for self-reflection exercises like listing interests and nostalgia from childho…

In this episode of Shaping Your Pottery, Whitney Gill shares her journey into the world of ceramics, influenced by her artistic family and a defining moment at the Haystack Mountain School of Craft. She discusses embracing simplicity in pottery design and the importance of documenting one's creative process. Whitney emphasizes the role community an…

In this episode you will learn the power of trusting the process with your pottery. Sometimes your pottery won't look how you pictured it until you have seen the final result Get your 53 themes by clicking this link shapingyourpottery.com/53themes For more episodes click here www.shapingyourpottery.com…

Today we continue our series on student loans with a conversation featuring Cammi Climaco and Jen Mecca. They share their experience with long-term management of loan payments, the effect loans have on family relationships, and student loan forgiveness. Cammi is a NYC based artist and podcast host of The Ceramics Companion. Jen is an artist and edu…

Welcome to "The Pin Tool Podcast," where art and life intersect. I’m your host, Alford Wayman of Creek Road Pottery LLC. Today, I’m sharing a personal reflection on life, art, and the lessons learned from my father. We’ll dive into moments of creativity, connection, and the challenges of balancing life’s difficult decisions. As you listen, think ab…

In this episode of 'Shaping Your Pottery,' Nic Torres welcomes Hailey Fair, a potter who shares her journey from traditional apprenticeships to establishing a unique brand focused on nerdy pottery inspired by books, video games, and movies. Hailey discusses the importance of breaking away from conventional methods, finding joy in creating, and how …

In this episode I am giving you the 3 ways that I like to apply black wash to my pottery if you would like to see the techniques in action subscribe to my youtube channel here https://www.youtube.com/@shapingyourpottery/videos Connect, Learn, and Find Your Pottery Voice by joining the The Clay Games Community here https://shapingyourpottery.ck.page…

After years of talking with people about their education, I thought it was time to address student loans head on. Today I talk with Betsy Mayotte, who over the past three decades has worked with hundreds of borrowers in her role as president of The Institute of Student Loan Advisors. In our interview we talk about the factors driving up the cost of…

In this episode, Nic Torres discusses the three hardest obstacles potters face when trying to find their unique pottery voice: overcoming self-doubt and imposter syndrome, finding time to practice pottery, and dealing with a lack of resources and skills. Nic offers practical tips for overcoming each challenge, such as maintaining consistent practic…

In this episode of Shaping Pottery, Ana Leal shares her journey to becoming a successful potter, starting from accidental encounters with clay to becoming a featured artist in prominent galleries. Her advice for aspiring potters includes pursuing what you are passionate about, the importance of self-promotion, engaging with potential galleries, and…

Celia Feldberg decorates her pots with vibrant sgraffito drawings of animals in human situations. With a light-hearted touch she talks about relationship dynamics and highlights the small beauty in every day life. In our interview we talk about refining her drawing style on clay, depicting love in all its forms, and being a resident artist at The C…

You don't need to get fancy to find your own artistic style so in this episode I am giving you 5 boring pottery techniques to help transform your pottery to dive deeper on the techniques subscribe and watch the episode on my youtube channel here https://www.youtube.com/@shapingyourpottery/podcasts Get your 53 themes by clicking this link shapingyou…

Not everyone should like your pottery and that's okay in this episode you going to learn why people should dislike your pottery Join The Shaping Your Pottery Newsletter By Clicking This Link shapingyourpottery.com/newsletter Listen To Other Episodes here https://www.shapingyourpottery.com/Av Nic Torres

In this episode, Celeste Dowlan shares her journey into the world of pottery, emphasizing the importance of play and creativity. She discusses how her childhood experiences with mud shaped her artistic practice and the realization that pottery should be fun and experimental. Celeste describes the impact of her high school pottery class on her life,…

Christy Culp’s terra cotta pots are decorated with blue berries, carrots, and other motifs that come from her western Pennsylvania farm. In our interview we talk about her decades long career as a high school ceramics teacher, building a dream studio out of a late 1800’s barn that was on the farm, and how her yoga practice supports her ceramic prac…

In this episode of Shaping Your Pottery, Nic Torres discusses the important decision potters face between creating pottery as an art form or focusing on selling their creations. He emphasizes the need to determine one's primary goal, as it significantly impacts the style and approach to pottery making. Whether choosing to pursue pottery purely for …

Camille Dungy is an award-winning poet, writer, and host of the podcast Immaterial: 5,000 Years of Art, One Material at a Time from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In our interview we talk about Immaterial and their approach to art and story telling. We also talk about her passion for gardening, and her most recent book Soil: The Story of a Black M…

Welcome to the latest episode of "The Pin Tool Podcast," where art meets entrepreneurship. I'm your host, Alford Wayman, from Creek Road Pottery LLC. In this episode, I have a discussion with my virtual assistant, Amelia, an Artificial Intelligence Chatbot, as we explore Life & Art Balance. At times, we might need to consider, or make hard decision…

In this episode of Shape Your Pottery, Adam shares his journey through numerous failures and eventual successes in the pottery world. He discusses his worst experience of losing an entire kiln worth of work, how he started his pottery career from high school, and rediscovered it later in life. Adam emphasizes the importance of making pottery for on…

In this episode, Nic Torres reacts to a YouTube video titled 'How I Solve the Happy Artist's Curse,' discussing the intricacies of the creative process in art and pottery. He emphasizes the importance of finding joy in specific aspects of the creative process, even if not every part is enjoyable. By sharing personal experiences and stories from oth…

In this episode of Shaping Your Pottery, Nic Torres discusses how to know when you're heading in the right direction with your pottery. He shares his personal experiences, from learning to sculpt to creating fan art mugs, emphasizing the importance of enjoying the process and feeling excited about the end results. Nic highlights two key indicators:…

In this episode of 'Shaping Your Pottery,' host Nic Torres interviews Nicole Curcio a passionate potter and painter. Nicole challenges the notion of comparing one's work to others, emphasizing the importance of individual growth and mental well-being. She shares her journey from falling in love with pottery in high school to the steps she is taking…

If you have been thinking about making fan art but aren't sure if it is actually your own voice or not never fear because in this episode I will be talking about just that Get your 53 themes by clicking this link shapingyourpottery.com/53themesAv Nic Torres

In this episode of Shaping Your Pottery I am doing something a little different and reacting to Mae Ceramics about the Importance of Play For Creatives Check out Mae's youtube channel by clicking here https://www.youtube.com/@MaeCeramics Sign up to the upcoming Mastering Carved Pottery with Molly Walter virtual workshop by clicking here…

Welcome to the latest episode of "The Pin Tool Podcast," where art meets entrepreneurship. I'm your host, Al Wayman, from Creek Road Pottery LLC, guiding you through the multifaceted world of pottery and business. Today, we're diving into the topic of using screenplay structure as a project management and promotion tool. In the book Save The Cat by…

In this episode, host Nic Torres interviews Natalie Miller from Fledgling Studios, discussing pottery techniques and common misconceptions in the pottery world. Natalie shares her journey of discovering a passion for pottery, transitioning from a hairstylist to a full-time potter, and offers valuable advice on teaching, sketching, and adding humor …

There is a right and wrong way when comparing art in this episode that is exactly what you will be learning to do Join The Shaping Your Pottery Newsletter By Clicking This Link shapingyourpottery.com/newsletterAv Nic Torres