whitneysmith

Clay came into my life thanks to a couple of guys I dated in my late teens and early 20's. They were clay dudes, and I was a painter chick. I was primarily interested in painting and drawing since I was a kid, and saw painting as my path to the art career that I wanted for myself. But when taking my first clay throwing class in 1994 after encouragement from the clay dudes, I was completely hooked. It was not unlike any addiction one may have. I completely forgot about painting and I thought about clay constantly. I was obsessed with getting on the wheel as much as possible, and used all of my spare time to make pots.

Meanwhile, I was finishing my degree in Anthropology at the University of California in Santa Cruz. People often assume I went to art school, but I did not. I was never interested in art school. I could not think of a more horrible way to spend time than being forced to make art for grades. I pursued Anthropology simply for the love of it and to get that BA, and dreamed of the pottery business I wanted to have.

After graduating in 1996, I was working as an pottery assistant while trying to get better and better at making my own pieces. By 2000, I was ready to be self-employed. I started spending my days in the studio and selling my work full-time. I explored every outlet possible to get my work out of my studio and into people's homes: crappy street fairs filled with drunks, stores and galleries, open studios, and then later a website and other online venues.

Years later, I'm still in my same little storefront studio, but lots of things have changed. I have steady work and clients all over the world, so no more hustling at street fairs or wholesale shows. My more popular items are now produced from molds to keep up with demand, and most of my one-of-a-kind work goes straight from the kiln to client homes. I even have a line that is made overseas and sold through major retail outlets. Etsy has helped me reach a new level of outreach, and every day I feel that benefit.

My work has always been influenced by nature. I am someone who is happiest when I'm out in the woods or laying next to the ocean, drinking in the beauty of the natural world. With my ceramic work I'm always trying to accomplish what nature does so easily: make something that is beautiful, useful, and functional. I hope you enjoy my work as much as I enjoy making it for you.