As I may have mentioned earlier in the year, I’m spending more time focusing on developing a new line of functional tableware. It’s going okay, I guess. Lots of self doubt and wondering if I’m just making the same old boring thing that seems fashionable now a days. There isn’t much of a lineage in this new work from my previous streamlined, wheelthrown, porcelain, clean cut work. This new stuff is dirtier, less refined, more organic (perhaps…i’m not sure, maybe organic is just a nice way of saying sloppy!)
I’ve been trying to focus my energy on the making part of the process, yet the marketing aspect seems to be screaming at me most days…will this sell? whose your target audience? this isn’t gallery standard work so where will you sell it? Does that even matter as you have the sculptural stuff for gallery shows? where is the concept? the research component? can work just be fun to make and not have to have layers of theory and technique to justify it’s existence?
What are you thinking – go back to what you we’re doing before!!! But alas that wasn’t paying the bills either. hmmm. So in the midst of this whole marketing dilemma i spent a day not caring and playing out in the studio making some pots for my kid since it’s time to put the melamine plates and plastic bowls aside for the ‘real” stuff, the clay. As a kid my folks got us each a set of Bunnykins dishware which i still have to this day. So i thought to myself that there must be an audience for ceramic dishware made just for the little ones – although i guess it’s their parents that are the ultimate suckers that dole out the cash for them. Anyway, I’m not sure where I’m going with this thought, but I sure had a ton of fun making them, and you know some days that’s really all that matters, right?
And here’s a few other examples of those making ceramics for the young ones:
Heath Ceramics
Shenzhen Effort Trading
Tigware
Studiotto
Scott McCarthy
Moorefeild Pottery
Brooklyn Rehab
Pumphouse Studios
Ema Zuma
Silvia Howes
I think the joy you had making this work truly comes through and the pieces are fabulous! If I had a little one, I would be gobbling this stuff up. Baby gifts, birthdays,baby stores…. marketing? People spend tons on baby/toddler items! Go for it!! Brilliant I think 🙂 I also loved the Ema Zuma piece.
good thoughts on who willl be buying pots for the next generation.
I love the clean line and the fun designs.
Both my kids grew up eating from pottery dishes and would not eat out of anything else.
But many of thier friends buy from pottery barn or target.
I was just reading CM and there were some interesting articles on this very subject.
I think clay is always changing.
And I think potters are as well- how to pay the bills and continue to make pots is such a balance.
Play away though- good ideas come out of play.
Anymore, if I'm not having more fun than not in the studio, I just figure it's not worth it. I have to have the "hook" of excitement or exploration (which makes it fun for me) or I just can't get up the energy. So, my vote is always to go toward what is fun… Love the elephant plate!
Hi Carole, I love your new work! And while there is still a lot of junk out there for kids, I think more and more parents are looking for kid stuff (toys, clothes *and* dishware) that is Real, beautiful, handmade. Your new pieces are lovely, styling and whimsical in a good way. I can see them selling brilliantly online and in high end baby/kid stores.