I learned of Suite One Studio through Becca’s Edit post… and since then, I’ve fallen totally in love with Lindsay Emery’s work. If you’ve ever thrown a pot, you know how difficult it can be to work in ceramics, and Lindsay’s amazing eye and appreciation for quality is apparent in every aspect of her line.
While speaking with Lindsay , one of the things that stood out to me is that after falling in love with pottery in college, she bought a wheel and started practicing – throwing and scrapping pots over and over again. She didn’t have a kiln to fire these pieces, so she literally had nothing to show for her work. Regardless of what you think of the ten-thousand hour rule, this shows a true commitment and dedication to the craft. What would you do over and over again just for fun? Is there a way to create a career out of that?
HOW DID YOU DECIDE ON YOUR CAREER PATH?
In 2007, I got a Kitchenaid stand mixer and it came with a one-year subscription to Food & Wine Magazine. I saw that the F&W editorial was filled with beautiful pottery and had a lightbulb moment – seeing props like that solved a question I had had about my artistic path. It made me realize that I wanted to be, and could be, a potter. Food & Wine is still a major source of inspiration today…. And I’ve come full circle and had my work in the magazine!
HOW DID YOU MOVE FROM ARTIST TO BUSINESS?
In 2010 I moved to Greensboro, North Carolina and made a promise to myself– “No matter what, I’m not going to get a job. No matter what, I’m going to make pots and make that my career.” I started to consider the work I was doing as a business, not just as an artistic endeavor. It was a totally different way to look at my work.
I love that I am able to explore artistic spontaneity – I can make what I want, whenever I want to make it. But while I am an artist with a collection, I also need to act as a business owner managing a brand. Social media has been great because I am able to meet people who approach things with the same sense of seriousness as I do.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
I’m inspired by local antique shops and consignment stores – looking through tableware of the past. It has been helpful for me to see what people have used and made in the past. It answers a lot of questions about what will work in my collection.
What I’m making is related to what was made in the past. I like that. That’s a good thing.
I’m a terrible interviewer…Lindsay and I spoke for quite a while, but I was a little too engaged in the conversation to take good notes! For more, check out Lindsay’s blog and at some point, we’ll share a part 2! Thanks, Lindsay!
[images courtesy of Suite One Studio]
test