Tell us a bit about yourself.
My name is Heather Knight, I am 30 years old. I live and work in an amazing old industrial building in downtown Asheville, North Carolina. I have a 16 year old Shitzu named Blossom, she is my dearest friend, I love her very much, though she smells kind of funny, pees everywhere and has no teeth. I am very lucky to be a full time ceramic artist, and am thankful every day that I am no longer rolling burritos.
Apart from creating things, what do you do?
I drink a lot of coffee, watch more movies than I should, go antique shopping, decorate my building and look for ideas and inspiration so that I can create more things!
What first made you want to become an artist?
I have always been creative, but even through college, I wasn’t totally clear on how one becomes an “artist”. What I found was that the more time I spent making art, the less time I wanted to spend doing anything else. It took me a decade to reach the point of taking the leap, and I haven’t looked back.
Please describe your creative process how, when, materials, etc.
I usually spend my mornings running errands, answering emails and paying bills, then by early afternoon, I am downstairs in the studio until late at night .
My inspiration comes mainly from textures and forms I find on my visits to the beach, or walks in the woods, and sometimes I find really cool stuff on city sidewalks. I have cork boards filled with pictures in my studio, and I keep a big bowl of my treasures on my work table. I like to let all of these things marinate in my imagination and kind of melt together. Plans for new work usually are clearer in my head than what I could draw, so I make a really loose sketch and when the timing is right, I start making prototypes in clay. I work almost exclusively in porcelain, because it is the smoothest and most wonderful thing to touch in the world.
What handmade possession do you most cherish?
My mug collection is pretty awesome, some of my favorites are from CourtneyMurphy, JoyTanner and Jenni Brant of Burrobranch. I have an amazing little cup by KristinPavelka that I love to drink wine from.
Name your top five books, movies, songs/musical groups, and web sites besides Etsy.
Books:
East of Eden, John Steinbeck
Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck
Art & Fear
Until I Find You, John Irving
From My Kitchen To Your Table, Bobby Flay
Music:
Built To Spill
Band of Horses
Modest Mouse
Elliot Smith
The Shins
Movies:
Atonement
Magnolia
Juno
Little Miss Sunshine
The Bourne Series
Websites:
Design Sponge
This Artists Life
Perez Hilton
Ebay
The New York Times
What advice would you give to artists who are new to Etsy?
I had a professor in school that always said “Time on task.” That is the best advice for everything! If you want to be a success on Etsy, (or with anything else) spend time focusing on that goal. Research the etsy wiki, go through the business section of the forums regularly, look at other people’s shops, relist daily, and promote. Most importantly, keep an open mind and figure out what works best for you!
What are your favorite features on Etsy? What new features would you like to see?
I love the time machine! A shipping label tool on etsy instead of paypal could be awesome. Paypal addresses are always wrong.
How do you promote your work?
I have a printed catalog and business cards that I take with me everywhere. I leave a trail wherever I go!, I have a portfolio on Trunkt, Supermarket and Dawanda, Canduru, a blog, a myspace, belong to indiepublic and lovli, and maintain my Website. I have a philosophy that even if my work is sitting in a shop somewhere untouched, someone will see it and remember it.
Etsy has been a huge promotion tool itself, I have been put in touch with shop and gallery owners around the world, as well as contacted by the press. Etsy is fantastic!
In ten years I’d like to be…
In ten years I would like to have my business running efficiently enough to allow for a vacation once a year to an exotic location, to still be inspired and creating new things, and have invented my own clay body.
6 comments
Sign in to add your owntaramadeit says:
Heather... you are inspiring. I love your creations, I too love clay and am inspired by the ocean. I am in the process of trying to commit myself to full-time artistry. I find like you said the more I am doing it the more I don't want to do anything else. I am broke but totally happy. I am trying to figure out this etsy thing and make it finally work for me as well as a million other things, which feels crazy, but you have given me a boost of confidence. Thank you.
1 year ago
greenspringstudio says:
Heather, I saw you on Nate the other day. What a great show! I got a lot of great ideas from all of the etsy sellers featured. You have long been a favorite of mine. I love your work. This article has been helpful, I am going to print it and refer back. I am a mother of two, I work full time, my husband has kidney disease and is a full time student. My son was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes last year. Needless to say I am busy, but the more I create the more it is all I want to do. I long for the days when I can create uninterrupted, I can lose myself and time is nonexistent. Thank you for being inspirational! Keep creating beautiful objects!
1 year ago
lydiaramirez says:
HEATHER HI, I ALSO REMEMBER SEEING YOU ON NATE. YOUR WORK IS SO SO BEAUTIFUL AND CALMING. THANK YOU FOR THE PROMOTING ADVICE AND BLESSINGS TO YOU IN THE FUTURE.
350 days ago
corduroyclay says:
Your work makes me want to cry it's so lovely! I love seeing your stuff every time I pull up this site and the way you are able to commit to it is a real inspiration. This...coming from a girl whose working for lawyers to pay the bills and dreaming of clay all day long! One day, I hope to be able to commit to my art as you are able to do with yours. Good luck to you in everything you do!
347 days ago
DeepSilence says:
I like your work very much.I am full time ceramic artist from another part of planet.Best regards, Sonja
174 days ago
Estelle Goldblatt says:
Your tiles are beautiful in the best sort of way.
111 days ago