Over the next couple of months, I thought it would be fun to take some of the #marchmeetthemaker prompts and expand on them here!

How I started
Going into college I knew I wanted art to be a part of my career, and I knew I wanted to eventually work for myself. 6 years and 7 major switches later, I graduated with a BS in studio art, concentration in ceramics and a minor in Art History. Graphic design, media studies, art education, and metalwork are a few of the majors I've tried/considered. It’s been a windy twisty road since graduation, but I wouldn’t change a thing!

I officially started my business after finishing a post baccalaureate program in 2016, right when I joined the Nutmeg Collective. I've done a handful of shows before that, but 2016 is when I took this seriously. I was working in a friend's garage, trying every fair and market that came my way, and reaching out to any maker/artist community I could find. The best thing I've learned in this stage of my super tiny business is that community is everything. It's basically how I learned to business.

For the past few months, I've been working for this amazing craft studio aka Craftivate. It's been so cool to work for a small business that I truly believe in! Now that I've got the basics down, I'll be running a few of my own classes and workshops. The photo above is for the Modern Mug sgraffito workshop; carve a handmade mug made by yours truly!

I'm also teaching an intro to clay class where I'll go over all the basics of hand building with clay through four projects. I've got so many ideas for ways to bring clay to the masses! I'm thinking ceramic jewelry will be up next.

NCECA 2018 was in Pittsburgh, PA. I got to drive down with my clay brothers; we had a blast! I think I spent most of my time watching Kevin Snipes hand build with porcelain. Being an artist of color who was still an outsider for not being "black enough," I related with him the most. Not to mention he likes to inject humor in his work, and HAND BUILDS with PORCELAIN. My clay people understand why that's sort of a big deal (well at least to me it is.)

We saw so many fantastic works, and got to visit the Standard clay facilities! NCECA is always a great time. Here's some highlights!

Guess who made it to the cover of a magazine?! That's me modeling my mug for The Perpetual You, an alternative women's magazine! I had the pleasure of discussing creativity and whimsy as an entrepreneur with TPY. Click here for the interview!

Why am I sharing this super basement-y basement?? Well, this will be my studio space in just 6 weeks! The home we will be moving into is a foreclosure, so it needs a ton-o-work. I am MOST excited about finally having my own studio space! I love my studio mates, but I think it's time I stop hogging all the shelves and spread out in my own digs. Hopefully a kiln can be situated down here :)

Akira commissioned me to make an alternate cover for his EP Autotune + Heart in the blob style I've been doing lately. This was a super fun project; kinda got a glimpse of what an illustration job might look like. Here's to more illustrations!

OH HEY. THERE I AM IN AN ISSUE OF CERAMICS MONTHLY. NO BIG DEAL.

You'll have to excuse my excitement! Amaco was gracious enough to include me in their ad, and interviewed me for their blog! Check it out here! I use Amaco velvet underglazes for all the color in my work and I absolutely love the easy use and smooth results. Hopefully I'll be in Ceramics Monthly again sometime!

Portland was amazeballs. Here's a few moments captured on my trip to PDX. 

Studs! All I can think about lately. They're so darn cute and it's a meditative thing to make in batches, since I make them by the dozens. I've got so many patterns in my brain to try! 

These four plates are on exhibition at the Institute Library's Nasty Woman Art Exhibition. I'm so proud of how they turned out! This is before the gold detail because of course, they went straight from the kiln to the show. Once the show is over I'll be sure to photograph them properly!

The idea behind the series is lesser known women of color who have shaped history, one way or another. I think the least known out of this group is Mary Kenner; she invented sanitary pads amongst other awesome and useful things. This is a series I definitely want to continue beyond this exhibition. Who else should I honor with a portrait on a plate?