#145 - Developing your own style

Explicit content warning

05/07/22 • 100 min

Ryan and Becca go into developing their own styles, evolving their practices, and progressing their businesses over time. Progress can be made little by little or huge shifts in a short period of time. However you develop your own style, enjoy the process along the way and hopefully you have success in finding an audience for it if you rely on this for your small business.
Resources
Sounds Like a Cult podcast
@blackrainbowpottery
@dannymeisinger
@daedal_goods
@renee_lopresti
@kate.schroeder.ceramics
@hammerlyceramics
Listener Questions
On this episode:
- How do you handle family, and close friends requesting pieces that you are sharing on social media right before an update. I work In such Small batches and although I am so honored and grateful that they want my work I just would rather list and sell everything fairly off my website. I also spend a lot of time marketing my pieces before a restock and I feel like if I show it will be available, it should be. It can be a bit overwhelming keeping track and organizing the side hustles. I feel like a jerk on a high horse telling them that though. I also feel the need to offer a discount. Most of my family and friends are on FB so I have started to not even read any messages until after my update. However, some follow my Instagram and always seem to reach out. Most have already purchased something with a discount and I can’t afford to keep giving the discounts when I have so much time involved. This is the shit I lose sleep over 😆. anonymous
- In what ways do you advance your practice? Reading books about technique, watching folks on instagram, going to art shows, or just trying new shapes or glazes? @narwhalandcrow
- Question for Becca: What was your process in switching to the fancy cups? Did you have it as an idea before you started? Were your paintings your inspiration for the line/dotwork? @narwhalandcrow
- How have y’all settled into or changed up the style of products you make? The people I get excited about following create work unlike anyone else and I wonder how artists get there. Y’all talk to a lot of artists so I wonder what knowledge you’ve acquired and can share with listeners. @blacktoothpottery
- What are your favorite things to listen to when alone in your studios? @drbadoro

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Previous Episode

#144 - Scheduling your studio time effectively

Ryan and Becca talk about scheduling their studio time effectively. Becca works in a production pottery studio by day so schedules are crucial for staying productive and getting work down by the end of the week. Ryan has to balance his making on the side and continue to meet his commitments he's made for the pottery business. Enjoy today's discussion and we hope you get some insights to make your making process more efficient.
Resources
Sam Hitchman
David Gibson
@blackrainbowpottery
Listener Questions
On this episode:
- Hi again guys! I was wondering if you could talk about production flow for the studio/production potter? Do you set specific quotas for weeks or months, or follow a schedule to keep yourself organized? Id like to keep all parts of the process in motion, and create a nice rhythm in my making, but it feels so unorganized sometimes. Have either of you ever found a general schedule to keep all the parts of your pottery business flowing? Or do we just forever bounce around based on priority? Thanks!! @lv.potterySend us questions so we can answer anything you've been thinking about on a future episode. Send those through Instagram @wheeltalkpodcast or email us at [email protected].
Support the show on Patreon for as little as $3 per month:
https://patreon.com/Wheeltalkpodcast
Follow us on Instagram:
@wheeltalkpodcast
@rdceramics
@5linespottery
Visit our website:
www.wheeltalkpotcast.com

Next Episode

#146 - Glaze application

Ryan and Becca go off on a few tangents on today's episode before getting into a couple questions about glazing techniques when applying multiple glazes to your pots and how to transition from brushing glazes to dipping glazes. Thanks for the questions!
Resources
Indianapolis Clay Studio Crawl
glazy.org
Amaco product update
Batty Bitches Podcast
Brickyard Podcast Network
Sounds Like a Cult
Backyard Craft Show - come visit us in-person
Listener Questions
On this episode:
- I need to catch up on my episode, but I really wanna know whether you two are miracle whip or mayonnaise people. There is a wrong answer. @lindermanpottery
- Do you know if there is any science or reason behind. having each coat of glaze dry completely between layers? I understand each layer should be applied when the shine is gone but to have it dry COMPLETELY so that it's not even cold takes a very long time. If I'm in a rush I will use my heat gun between layers to speed up the process. But I'm not sure if this is negatively affecting my results. Love to hear your input. @seraphinaceramics
- I’m finding glaze combos I like but if I ever wanted to make a batch of like 50 cups, brushing that shit would be an outlandish amount of work. Can you make clone recipes of bottled name brand glazes for dipping ? @blacktoothpottery

Send us questions so we can answer anything you've been thinking about on a future episode. Send those through Instagram @wheeltalkpodcast or email us at [email protected].
Support the show on Patreon for as little as $3 per month:
https://patreon.com/Wheeltalkpodcast
Follow us on Instagram:
@wheeltalkpodcast
@rdceramics
@5linespottery
Visit our website:
www.wheeltalkpotcast.com